136 | TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
Sensing road safety As serious accidents continue to be a fundamental problem associated with road travel, technology is being developed that can detect multiple traffic violations to make roads safer for all Words | Nathalie Deguen, Parifex, France
Road safety is a priority for authorities around the world – and France is no exception. While the mortality rate on roads has been decreasing over the past decade, the figures are still worryingly high and it continues to be a big concern. In fact, the improvement is mainly seen in suburban areas, with the number of accidents actually increasing in urban centers. Pedestrians and cyclists are the most affected. An accident is the consequence of a dysfunction of the human-vehicleenvironment system. It is in the interactions of, and relationships between, these three
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components that can cause accidents. This approach helps to better understand accidents and to find actions to remedy them. The Reagir surveys were able to estimate the share of each component in severe and fatal accidents, and to reduce key factors. In 90% of accidents, the ‘behavior’ component was present. Educational, preventive and repressive measures have been taken to deal with the behavior likely to generate accidents. Consequently, the French government has been requesting that the leading figures in the field of road safety monitor more violations.
To meet the needs of authorities, French engineering firm Parifex has developed a selection of non-intrusive roadside control tools. The company has been involved with the development of innovative road safety and traffic management solutions, Dopplerand lidar-based systems, for more than 30 years. Indeed, Parifex has supported French law enforcement officials since the 1980s, designing and engineering solutions to meet their evolving requirements. At present, some 400 Parifex solutions are deployed in France and 200 additional ones are to be installed by 2020.
