For several years, black cables have been crossing the roads, which is completely normal for drivers, although some drivers will continue insisting that they are radars or something similar, but the truth is that it doesn’t have much to do with it, but rather they are simple meters of the existing traffic volume on the roads.
They work in a simple way
In terms of operation, they do not pose any problems thanks to their simplicity. We are talking about cables that are only 2 centimeters thick and completely filled with air, so that every time a car passes over them and increases the pressure, it will send a signal to the control unit, which is always within range. hand one side of the road, which will keep the accounts and send the data to the traffic center where it will be processed.
These cables always end in a control unit
This type of procedure is quite simple and has been used for several decades, so the Ministry of Transport makes interactive traffic density maps, which will be very useful when you want to find black spots, traffic jams and hot spots on the national highway network.
Interactive map
Today, the national road network has more than 3,370 gauging stations, which is actually the technical name given to them, where more than one 52% of light traffic on Spanish roads and more than 60% of traffic.
Let us think that in our country, this type of information has been collected since the sixties, although it is true that the procedures have evolved to be more precise each time.
These types of devices are usually attached to guardrails.
Although popular legends say that this type of cable measures the speed of vehicles, the truth is that this is not really its mission, so it is possible walk on it calmly without fear of sanctions, etc.
Yes, it’s true that there are devices under the asphalt that can measure the speed of cars passing over it.
The answer lies in some black cables that you have surely seen more than once on the road. when you drive on a road. These are one or two cables placed perpendicular to the direction of travel. One day we notice them and in a day, or even in a few hours, they disappear as if by magic.
Also called “pneumatic tubes”
They are called “pneumatic tubes” and are used to analyze the traffic circulating on the road network. Since they are hollow, air will flow through them and when the car passes over it, what happens is said air is compressed, which will be towards the sides of the cable.
To explore the subject further…
Yes, it is also true that they have a series of sensors that work like a switch and send a signal to the system. You should know that it is a counting system which, in addition to being able to count the number of cars that pass over it in a specific time, will be able to count both the axles and the time that elapses between a car and another.
Are pneumatic tubes punishment tools?
In this sense, it must be emphasized that, although they collect a lot of information, these cables They are not used to apply sanctionsbecause for this to be possible, they would need a camera capable of capturing vehicle license plates.
Now that you are aware of all this, you need to take into account the vast amount of information these cables can give to road owners.
So what is this type of information used for?
This type of data makes it possible to measure the effectiveness of new signs or the speed at which vehicles will approach an area where there is a high concentration of accidents.
In this regard, if for example you see in your street a widespread complaint in the neighborhood regarding speeding and other traffic problems, these cables will determine the need to introduce a series of speed limits and speed bump signs.
After all that we have discussed, we hope to have resolved some of the questions that we usually ask ourselves and to which it seems difficult to find answers.
