ASHLAND — The Ohio Department of Transportation’s safety program is investing up to $3 million this summer to replace existing advanced vehicle detection systems with radar detection on all freight corridors across the state.
Approximately $450,000 of these funds are allocated to District 3 to upgrade 18 signals.
Radar detection generates and locks in a radar signal on each vehicle independently as it approaches the intersection. This will help to optimize signal timing in order to ensure vehicles make it through the intersection. This technology does not record vehicle speeds, it detects if a vehicle is approaching an intersection and sends a signal directly to the signal controller to extend the green time.
This information cannot, and will not, be used for law enforcement purposes.
The purpose of the project is to reduce the number of crashes involving semi-trucks that travel along the specific corridors. This upgraded technology has been in District 3 since 2011, and is currently being used on 48 of the 148 signals maintained by District 3.
This type of radar detection will be added to all new signals installations, and will be added to any future resurfacing projects where loop detection will be damaged during milling operations. The upgraded technology will be more accurate and reliable.
