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| Boylan Traffic Solutions News |
December 2008
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In this issue:
- Know your blackspots! A guide to NSW's horror intersections
- 77 per cent of road workers have suffered verbal abuse, study reveals
- Mechanical problems dash IndyCar hopes
- First Aussie training seminars for BarrierGuard 800
Know your blackspots!
Intersections are one of the most dangerous areas for any driver - in fact, more than 80 per cent of all city collisions involving injury or death occur within controlled intersections.
It's important to take note of the most dangerous intersections in your town/city and take extra care to avoid becoming a statistic.
To help, we've published a list of NSW's top 10 accident blackspots (see below). We'll detail Queensland's accident hotspots in next month's issue. Happy motoring!
Peter Boylan
Neil Crompton
BTS TEAM SAFETY
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Witches' Hats - 710mm high
Take advantage of our price-busting pre-Christmas special!
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* While Stocks Last: Minimum order 100 units
Sales inquiries: Michael Chappell 0400 405 012 |
| NSW Top 10 accident blackspots
1. M4 / Silverwater Rd intersection, Silverwater - 135 accidents
2. King Georges Rd / M5 intersection, Beverly Hills - 94 accidents
3. Epping Rd /Lane Cove Rd intersection, North Ryde - 90 accidents
4. M4/Parramatta Rd/Gr.Western Hwy/Woodville Rd/Church St,
Granville -89 accidents
5. Blaxland Rd/Gilchrist Dr/Narellan Rd, Campbelltown - 88 accidents
6. Hume Highway/Henry Lawson Dr/Woodville Rd, Lansdowne - 79 accidents
7. Cumberland Hwy/Freame St/Hart Dr,Old Windsor Rd/Briens Rd, Wentworthville - 71 accidents
8= Canterbury Rd / King Georges Rd, Wiley Park - 63 accidents
8= King Georges Rd/Wiley Ave,Punchbowl Rd, Wiley Park - 63 accidents
10. Pacific Highway/Ryde Rd/Mona Vale Rd, Pymble - 61 accidents
* Crash data based on NRMA Insurance motor comprehensive claims July 2006 - June 2007.
Next month: Queensland accident hotspots
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Mechanical problems dash Indy hopes
Disappointment for Rookie of the Year Runner-Up
Mechanical problems put paid to Barton Mawer's hopes of a top five finish in the recent IndyCar series.
The up-and-coming motorsport talent - sponsored by Boylan Traffic Solutions - raced a Maxloc Porche prepared by Melbourne's Fitzgerald Racing Services.
Barton finished 17th in the series - a bitter disappointment following races beset by mechanical problems.
`` The clutch blew out at the start of the second race, resulting in a non finish,'' Barton said.
``And the third race also ended in a non finish when a water hose popped off, dumping the engine coolant,'' he said.
Barton said a top five finish in the series had been within reach.
"We finished 6th at Bathurst and I have placed as high as 3rd this year, so it was definitely achievable," Barton said.
The 25-year-old debuted at Indy in 2002 in the Formula 3 category, where he finished an amazing third behind current Indy high-flyer Will Power.
Barton is now focused on the 2009 Porsche Carrera Cup.
``I had a successful debut season this year - top 10 in the championship and runner up in the Rookie of the Year honours,'' Barton said.
``I'm looking forward to progressing up the order next year,'' he said.
Meanwhile, Barton has been keeping busy with a charity go-kart race for MS research on December 3 at Oran Park.
His competitors included drivers preparing for the final round of the V8 Supercar Championship the same week.
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Abuse a common threat
Survey's alarming findings
A recent survey conducted by the UK Government's Highways Agency revealed some alarming statistics. Of the 400 road workers surveyed:
- 77% had suffered verbal abuse from passing drivers.
- 54% had experienced a near miss with a vehicle.
- 40% had had objects deliberately thrown at them (e.g. coins, cans).
- 3% had suffered a slight personal injury (e.g. bruising).
- 3% had suffered a major personal injury (e.g. broken nose).
- 89% thought that drivers had accidents at roadworks because they were driving too fast, while 76% thought is was down to the drivers' lack of concentration.
- A further 73% blamed accidents on drivers failing to read road signs.
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| First Aussie training sessions on BarrierGuard 800
UK experts pass on their knowledge
Australia's first training expos on the BarrierGuard 800 road safety barrier were held recently at BTS's NSW and Queensland sites.
The BG800 is a state-of-the-art prefabricated steel barrier which works in two ways: by absorbing the impact of a crash and containing the vehicle. Marketed in Australia solely by BTS, it is the only temporary crash barrier in the world to meet the requirements of the standard NCHRP 350 (Test Level 4) and EN 1317-2 (containment Levels N2 and H2).
Senior staff from Highway Care - including chairman John Talbot, managing director Steve Powell and technical manager Adrian Bullock - flew out from the UK to conduct the training.
BTS national operations manager Wayne Duckworth said the sessions involved a thorough explanation of how the BG800 was developed and its evolution to where it is today.
``All staff were given personal training in relation to the components, assembly, installation, transport and deployment,'' Wayne said.
He said senior staff received more advanced training in a number of areas including deflections and safe work zones, with particular comparisons to other types of barriers.
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| Make your community event a sure-fire hit
Cost-effective way to attract the crowds
Councils now have access to a new line of portable variable message sign boards especially designed for community events.
The boards - painted a sleek white, instead of the normal road safety orange - employ the latest solar-powered technology and state-of-the-art message sign software.
Boylan Traffic Solutions managing director Peter Boylan said the company had designed the portable boards to meet the growing hire market in the commercial/community sector.
``BTS is one of the first companies in Australia to offer variable message sign boards especially designed for this sector,'' Mr Boylan said.
``We're confident they will be a more attractive high-tech option for community event organisers,'' he said.
The BTS variable message boards come with custom-designed software that offers up to 200 user-programmable messages, 180 pre-programmed messages and 50 pictograms.
``It enables event organisers to program a multitude of messages to be delivered at staggered times throughout the day, '' Mr Boylan said.
``This is invaluable in a community event situation where lots of things are happening at once within a strict program timetable,'' he said.
Inquiries: Michael Chappell on 0400 405 012
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BTS expansion plans
The planned new storage/office facility on the BTS Queensland site is expected to be opened by May next year.
It follows the opening of a brand new facility at Box Hill, NSW, last month.
The company's NSW branch welcomed three new staff members last month - (from top left) Kim Redfern (sales support), Michael Chappell (business development/sales) and Paul Smithson (VMS boards).
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BTS role in Gateway project
1000 barriers ensure safety
More than 1000 BTS safety barriers are presently in use in Brisbane's $1.88 billion Gateway Upgrade Project, which will duplicate
the Gateway Bridge and upgrade 19 km of motorway.
The barriers are used as a secondary safety measure for workers on top of the structure as they lift and piece together the many 250 tonne sections of bridge.
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BG800 showcase
Staff's enthusiastic response
BTS sales executive Craig Rush recently showcased the BarrierGuard 800 at two one-day training workshops organised by the Queensland Department of Main Roads.
Craig lent his expertise to two workshops - the Safelink Alliance and the Horizon Alliance - where he was asked to provide technical advice on Australia's highest-rated safety barrier.
BTS national operations manager Wayne Duckworth described the response from DMR staff to the BG800 as ``fairly amazing''.
``Not only to the capabilities of the BG800, but the enthusiasm they have in wanting to 'get it right' for their safety and the safety of road users,'' he said.
Wayne is set to offer technical advice at a DMR workshop in Cairns on December 16. | |
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