Speed Signs Cost Less Than You Think
The Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program in the Transportation Dept of Bellevue, Washington, made a 2005 report on the efficacy of radar speed display signs after installing 20 in numerous locations and monitoring them over a 5-year period for results, cost and other factors. Aside from the results showing that the signs were effective and stayed effective over the course of the study, some other important things can be taken away from the report, eg the low continuing expense of using electric display signs.
In the breakdown of the cost of purchasing and installing the signs, the report also lists the continuing electricity costs and upkeep expenses. Twenty signs spread all around the city cost Bellevue only about $60 each month total in electricity—about $3 each month per sign. While that will fluctuate from place to place based primarily on the price per KW hour of electricity at any given time, it illustrates the low electricity costs for speed signs.
Because TraffiCalm's speed display signs use LED lights, the utilisation of power is marginal, even if they operate 24 hours per day. And the signs can be employed variably, immediately closing down at night during slow traffic hours or staying on only in a certain heavy-traffic portion of the day, which would lower the already nominal costs further.
The other continuing cost area that many officers might fret about is maintenance. There's upkeep that could need to occur if something goes badly or to negate regular wear, and maintenance that's critical to fix signs after things like hurricanes or vandalism.
The Bellevue study cited objects being thrown at signs as the number 1 type of vandalism. Sealed signs protect against this as much as possible, so mend costs due to vandalism are minimal. The expenses for upkeep and repair were so minimal over the 20 speed display signs employed in Bellevue, which were a variety of makes and models, that the actual greenback amounts were not even listed for the 5-year period.
In the breakdown of the cost of purchasing and installing the signs, the report also lists the continuing electricity costs and upkeep expenses. Twenty signs spread all around the city cost Bellevue only about $60 each month total in electricity—about $3 each month per sign. While that will fluctuate from place to place based primarily on the price per KW hour of electricity at any given time, it illustrates the low electricity costs for speed signs.
Because TraffiCalm's speed display signs use LED lights, the utilisation of power is marginal, even if they operate 24 hours per day. And the signs can be employed variably, immediately closing down at night during slow traffic hours or staying on only in a certain heavy-traffic portion of the day, which would lower the already nominal costs further.
The other continuing cost area that many officers might fret about is maintenance. There's upkeep that could need to occur if something goes badly or to negate regular wear, and maintenance that's critical to fix signs after things like hurricanes or vandalism.
The Bellevue study cited objects being thrown at signs as the number 1 type of vandalism. Sealed signs protect against this as much as possible, so mend costs due to vandalism are minimal. The expenses for upkeep and repair were so minimal over the 20 speed display signs employed in Bellevue, which were a variety of makes and models, that the actual greenback amounts were not even listed for the 5-year period.
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With TraffiCalm's experience and knowledge technology, driver feedback signs are even better protected against eventualities like weather and vandalism to make sure they keep working irrespective of what. Check out trafficalmsystems.com today for more information about traffic calming in your community.