The ‘robotic’ traffic markers that mean you’ll never get stuck in unnecessary roadworks queues again – and they could even save lives
Brit drivers are often forced to queue up for roadworks even after they have finished for the day - but a new remote controlled device could put an end to the problem
POINTLESS lines of traffic cones can cause chaos on British motorways, even when roadworks aren't going on.
But a new remote controlled marker could put an end to unnecessary queuing.
It's often too dangerous for road workers to collect traffic cones after jobs have finished for the day, meaning motorists are still forced to pile around them for no reason.
A new "robotic" marker could now fix that problem, with engineers creating a cone with wheels that is able move itself in and out of position on motorways and roads.
The luminous markers are placed on the hard shoulder and move themselves into the road at the touch of a button to close off a lane as needed.
Using a GPS computer, the invention will also make it safer for road workers who will not be needed to deploy near cars travelling around 70mph.
Richard Golledge came up with the idea while working at technology engineers Costain.
Presenting his idea at The Cheltenham Science Festival, he said: “Live traffic on the motorway is quite a dangerous thing.
"The taper is the most dangerous part of deploying cones, but with the remote controlled cones they form a line on the hard shoulder. They come out and form the taper.
“It saves people taking the taper down and moving it out - everybody benefits.
"Every evening someone has to push cones out from the side of the road before starting work.
“Then once that was done, at the end of the shift, they bring them back in. It takes 15 minutes to do a taper but with the remote controlled cones it will take less than a minute.”
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But Highways England will have to evaluate the £100 cones before they are approved for use on the motorways.
William Clifford, another software consultant from Costain, said: “People die putting these cones out and that is one of the main drivers of this project to make it safer for road workers.
“But it is also important to cut down the amount of time lanes are conned off to make it better for the motorist.”