Skip to main content

Gatso to participate in German average speed pilot

The idea of average speed enforcement, or section control, in Germany has long been discussed by German authorities following its recommendation in 2009 by the 47th German Traffic Court Day. Interior Minister Boris Pistorius has announced a section control pilot project which is scheduled to be operational in Lower Saxony in spring 2015. Instead measuring speed in the conventional at a single point, section control measures average speed over a longer stretch of road. This method usually results in l
September 11, 2014 Read time: 2 mins

The idea of average speed enforcement, or section control, in Germany has long been discussed by German authorities following its recommendation in 2009 by the 47th German Traffic Court Day.

Interior Minister Boris Pistorius has announced a section control pilot project which is scheduled to be operational in Lower Saxony in spring 2015.

Instead measuring speed in the conventional at a single point, section control measures average speed over a longer stretch of road. This method usually results in lower, more uniform speeds and a harmonisation of the traffic flow which significantly improves traffic safety.

The pilot will use 1679 Gatso’s section control system which utilises radar detection and can be installed on existing street furniture or gantries without the need for in-road sensors. The system’s high matching and detection accuracy make it an effective solution for average speed enforcement, while the high trigger accuracy also makes it suitable for use on short stretches of road such as tunnels or bridges.

Said Pistorius, "Until now we had only technology available that allowed for selective monitoring of speed."

Dietmar Schwalm, sales manager GATSO Germany: “Section control enforcement leads to compliance with the speed limit in the entire danger zone. We hope to establish this effective measuring principle on the German market with the pilot project. It is an excellent addition to our combined red light and speed enforcement system to improve road safety at intersections."

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Adaptive cruise control would suppress traffic instability
    March 20, 2014
    Professor Berthold Horn of Massachusetts Institute of Technology believes a modified adaptive cruise control could mitigate phantom traffic jamsthat occur for no apparent reason. The phenomenon of the phantom traffic jam is all too common: they appear for no apparent reason and, having caused frustrating delays for all travelers, evaporate for an equally mystical reason. Phantom traffic jams usually occur on busy highways and often take the form of repeatedly stopping and then accelerating up to near the
  • When speed compliance becomes a safety issue
    March 29, 2017
    David Crawford finds that softly, softly can be safely, safely when it comes to speed enforcement. Comedians and controversial TV presenters have long made jokes about having to watch the speedometer so closely as they pass speed camera after speed camera that they mow down bus queues. But the joke may have some factual basis according to a study by researchers from the University of Western Australia.
  • Putting the brakes on smart motorways
    February 28, 2022
    The UK government has announced that development of its all-lane running highways is going to be put on hold for another few years to assess safety data. Adam Hill finds out why
  • Robust enforcement strategy needed for free flow toll roads
    January 10, 2012
    Timidity has no place in effective enforcement operations on free-flow toll roads, says the NRA's Cathal Masteron. What's needed is a robust strategy which starts big and reduces in size over time, rather than starts small and gains a reputation for being easy to avoid