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Sydney tunnel water screen stop sign for oversized vehicles [video]

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Re: Sydney tunnel water screen stop sign for oversized vehicles [video]

#31

Post by crymer11 »

didsomeonesay wrote: post #10

low-tech solution: http://vanishingpoint.at/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/1... (edit: actual image url instead of article)

A fairly low bridge (high enough for a standard trailer, but any oversized loads on a flatbed could easily hit it) in my area had what were essentially large metal cans hanging by wires along a sign warning about the height. Anything tall enough to hit the bridge would hit the bits hanging from the sign and clang them around/together/against the vehicle which makes a pretty audible noise for the driver.

Re: Sydney tunnel water screen stop sign for oversized vehicles [video]

#32

Post by duck »

chris_wot wrote: post #16
mootothemax wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a really cool idea, but I couldn't help but think they should move the water stop sign to well BEFORE the million dollar damage point I thought the stop sign was only visible because of the dark background (i.e. moderately lit tunnel) behind it? My first thought was similar - it needs to be seen sooner - but I presume that even some braking before slamming into concrete is better than none.

You mean, before the 3 flashing stop signs BEFORE he got to that point? A better idea might be a low bar that causes the truck damage well before they reach the tunnel. Only issue is how to make it safe and very obvious it's done the truck damage?

The whole point of the water sign is not to cause damage/kill regular cars that might be next to or in front of the truck.

Re: Sydney tunnel water screen stop sign for oversized vehicles [video]

#33

Post by dlhavema »

Smerity wrote: post #4
bluedevil2k wrote: post #2

It's a really cool idea, but I couldn't help but think they should move the water stop sign to well BEFORE the million dollar damage point. Some big trucks would have a hard time seeing the stop sign, reacting to it, slamming on the brakes, and coming to a complete stop in time before they cause damage to the overhang and beams.

The advantage with the signs before the final water sign is that they should be enough for any reasonably alert driver and don't make the environment more hazardous. You really want to have the water screen projection, which douses the road with water, as the last line of defence. Water on the road is likely to make it far more difficult to stop a large truck like that. Having it earlier could actually be detrimental…

signs and "plackards" go ignored all the time. i worked in a computer lab and had to put up signs when things were broken ( internet, printer, etc.. ) and we always got people ignoring them...

Re: Sydney tunnel water screen stop sign for oversized vehicles [video]

#34

Post by to3m »

didsomeonesay wrote: post #10

low-tech solution: http://vanishingpoint.at/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/1... (edit: actual image url instead of article)

More severe low-tech solution: https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=blackwall+tunnel&hl=en&...

(Blackwall Tunnel, northbound, London)

And again, just in case you missed the scraping sounds the first time: https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=blackwall+tunnel&hl=en&...

(For some reason they don't appear to have anything similar going south...)

Re: Sydney tunnel water screen stop sign for oversized vehicles [video]

#35

Post by VLM »

jere wrote: post #24

You might think that trucks ignoring multiple, obvious flashing warning signs wouldn't be that common. This hilarious video proves otherwise: http://gizmodo.com/5955244/watch-this-bridge-destroying-doze...

"multiple, obvious flashing warning signs wouldn't be that common."

Unfortunately they are way too common. Did you know there's wild animals living outdoors and they cross roads? 75 miles away a divorced family is having a custody dispute so here's abduction alert #243 for the year as a punishment from one parent to the other? There's a terrorist hiding behind every tree stump? Next month some roadwork is planned although nothing so far has been done other than put up the warning sign and barrels and collect higher traffic ticket fees? Six months ago a long term road work lane closure happened so everyday commuters now completely ignore a giant bright flashing warning that lanes have changed? The bright flashing overhead sign reports that 30 miles away where you aren't even going, there is a traffic jam? This is before I even get started on the billboard advertisements designed to distract you from driving.

If everything's an emergency, then nothing is an emergency. Including, unfortunately, bridge height.

Re: Sydney tunnel water screen stop sign for oversized vehicles [video]

#36

Post by sgift »

bluedevil2k wrote: post #2

It's a really cool idea, but I couldn't help but think they should move the water stop sign to well BEFORE the million dollar damage point. Some big trucks would have a hard time seeing the stop sign, reacting to it, slamming on the brakes, and coming to a complete stop in time before they cause damage to the overhang and beams.

We have a variant of this installed on a tunnel (which is probably safer, but not as cool :) ): Directly after the last highway exit before reaching the tunnel is a light barrier installed. If something breaks the barrier the tunnel entrance will be closed by boom barriers (and warning lights, so nobody drives into the boom barriers). Then the police drives out to the tunnel, finds the culprit, pulls him out and unlocks the tunnel again.

Obviously, this only works because there is enough time after the last exit to block the tunnel before the truck reaches it.

Re: Sydney tunnel water screen stop sign for oversized vehicles [video]

#37

Post by VLM »

beebs93 wrote: post #9
aashaykumar92 wrote: post #7

What a neat idea! But if these trucks are PURPOSEFULLY breaking the laws and continuing to go through the tunnel, I am not sure that this solution will hold up for too long; after all, the clever truck drivers will know it is a mere illusion. Furthermore, instead of a water screen, wouldn't a brick screen be more effective? Personally, I wouldn't mind going through water nearly as much as I would be running into a br…

Funny, I also thought a stop sign wasn't severe enough (I wanted the water screen to project an oncoming semi to scare the sh*t out of the driver), but illusions like that would cause some drivers to panic and endanger motorists around them.

"would cause some drivers to panic and endanger motorists around them."

About to smash out the top of a tunnel and crush the neighboring cars under your rubble? If you're not already in a panic, its certainly time to start...

Re: Sydney tunnel water screen stop sign for oversized vehicles [video]

#38

Post by kamjam »

joyeuse6701 wrote: post #17

It was cool seeing it in action (I wonder who thought of it, and got passed the bureaucracy to make it happen). I wonder whether they considered industry standard truck height when building that tunnel.

If anyone was at the London 2012 Olympics then they may have seen this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwNTczEIaDI

They may well have these in many other places of course, I thought it was dead cool.

Re: Sydney tunnel water screen stop sign for oversized vehicles [video]

#40

Post by fduran »

astrodust wrote: post #29
Smerity wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The advantage with the signs before the final water sign is that they should be enough for any reasonably alert driver and don't make the environment more hazardous. You really want to have the water screen projection, which douses the road with water, as the last line of defence. Water on the road is likely to make it far more difficult to stop a large truck like that. Having it earlier could actually be detrimental…

I worked near a train bridge that was constantly being hit by trucks. It was a near weekly event at times. They installed big, flashing lights and drivers would still blow through.

Same thing here for this tunnel in Louisville http://www.wave3.com/story/21389005/wave-3-investigates-stuc...
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