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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]

#81

Post by Osmium »

fab13n wrote: post #74

That's a cute high-tech solution. A simpler one is to put a horizontal bar, the same height as the tunnel's ceiling, which will physically stop the truck before causing millions worth of damages. It's often done in France, sometimes with an early warning: a first arch with chains hanging to the maximal height. It makes a lot of noise on the truck's top, but won't destroy it.

A similar solution is used in my area yet perplexingly it still doesn't seem to stop it happening... so I think new ideas like this are definitely a good thing.

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

#82

Post by joezydeco »

Achshar wrote: post #18
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.

I think they actually shut down the lights in the tunnel before the screen goes off. You can see it in the video when the lights go off and tunnel is suddenly much darker.

Probably not the whole tunnel, just the entrance to enhance the projection effect. Remember there is still traffic in the remainder of the tunnel.

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

#83

Post by evan_ »

fab13n wrote: post #74

That's a cute high-tech solution. A simpler one is to put a horizontal bar, the same height as the tunnel's ceiling, which will physically stop the truck before causing millions worth of damages. It's often done in France, sometimes with an early warning: a first arch with chains hanging to the maximal height. It makes a lot of noise on the truck's top, but won't destroy it.

Did you see the truck in the video take out an enormous steel beam that was presumably attached to the structure of the tunnel in some kind of permanent way? How would your solution avoid the same fate?

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

#84

Post by TheCapn »

speeder wrote: post #69

And I think some people will STILL crash on the tunnel anyway. I made a arcade game once: www.abril.com.br/blog/campus-party/2011/01/19/fanatico-por-jogos-leva-seu-proprio-fliperama-para-a-arena/ It has instructions printed on the sides of the screen... It was VERY, VERY, VERY common to someone ask people around them what a button do (sometimes to even random passerby people, or for example a couple arrived at the ma…

Designers are often burdened with creating a design that doesn't require additional interaction by the user. To create something where the user needs to consult instructions or a help file often deters new users from getting past the initial discovery stage.

Even then though there are those "special" users who are beyond help and ignore all rational signs and hints along their path to self destruction. My first job was pumping gas and we had one set of pumps that had a smaller tank than others: it ran out very quickly. So when it was empty we'd put "Out of order" bags over the pump (clearly displayed and labelled) only for people to drive up, remove the bag then complain the pump is dysfunctional.

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

#85

Post by base698 »

speeder wrote: post #69

And I think some people will STILL crash on the tunnel anyway. I made a arcade game once: www.abril.com.br/blog/campus-party/2011/01/19/fanatico-por-jogos-leva-seu-proprio-fliperama-para-a-arena/ It has instructions printed on the sides of the screen... It was VERY, VERY, VERY common to someone ask people around them what a button do (sometimes to even random passerby people, or for example a couple arrived at the ma…

http://www.joelonsoftware.com/uibook/chapters/fog0000000062....

When you design user interfaces, it's a good idea to keep two principles in mind:

1. Users don't have the manual, and if they did, they wouldn't read it.

2. In fact, users can't read anything, and if they could, they wouldn't want to.

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

#86

Post by acqq »

fab13n wrote: post #74

That's a cute high-tech solution. A simpler one is to put a horizontal bar, the same height as the tunnel's ceiling, which will physically stop the truck before causing millions worth of damages. It's often done in France, sometimes with an early warning: a first arch with chains hanging to the maximal height. It makes a lot of noise on the truck's top, but won't destroy it.

I guess they are afraid that the broken bar can damage some other vehicle. Still, something heavier that can be damaged and can stop the truck before the tunnel is the proper solution, not the strange projections. Drivers are too sleepy sometimes, in spite of the expectations of the idealists.

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

#87

Post by mseebach »

lutze wrote: post #65
Kluny wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's easy to not see stuff when you've been driving for 16 hours straight.

It's also easy to not see stuff when you're blind drunk. Both of these things are illegal, it's no excuse.

It's not about excuses. It's about avoiding that the accident happens, because it can cause the tunnel to get shut down for weeks.

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

#88

Post by alan_cx »

The drivers cannot be not simply ignoring the signs.

The sign is telling them that later down the road they will absolutely get in to problems, and get literally stuck. No one would continue with that certainty of getting stuck or in trouble. On top of that, it cant be repeat offenders either. Some one who has been there before must have gotten caught out, one way or another. Its not like drivers on small roads who see a 6ft width restriction sign, but know through local knowledge that really you can squeeze 7ft wide car through the lane.

What we have is drivers who do not know the road, and in their minds don't think the big huge warning signs are meant for them. In their heads they think it for a another driver on the road in close proximity, even if there is no sign of one.

The problem with road signs is making it known to specific individuals that the message is absolutely for them. The brilliant last resort sign absolutely makes it clear who the message is for.

So the key is to some how make driver know that the message is actually for them specifically.

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

#89

Post by fr0sty »

fab13n wrote: post #74

That's a cute high-tech solution. A simpler one is to put a horizontal bar, the same height as the tunnel's ceiling, which will physically stop the truck before causing millions worth of damages. It's often done in France, sometimes with an early warning: a first arch with chains hanging to the maximal height. It makes a lot of noise on the truck's top, but won't destroy it.

One additional benefit to the water sign: It doesn't leave the roadway strewn with debris.

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

#90

Post by sp332 »

Supermighty wrote: post #64
josh_fyi wrote: post #56

Why not have a plastic flap hang down and thwack the top of the too-tall truck? Next, if that's ignored, a plywood barricade hanging down: Better some splintered plywood than a jammed tunnel.

And lastly a large flashing sign, or water sign, saying there is tire damage up ahead. Then have tire damage spikes come out of the road. It's the drivers responsibility to not damage the tunnel or bridge. Better to damage some cheap tires on a truck than the tunnel.

That's not a good idea. Tire damage reduces control of a multi-ton vehicle in the middle of traffic, and vastly increases the amount of time it will take to get the vehicle back out. Even the flying rubber tire parts have huge amounts of energy and can damage nearby cars or even kill people.
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