Skip to main content

AGD Systems deploys radar wrong-way detection in Tyne Tunnel

Following a highly successful trial, AGD Systems’ new generation intelligent radar detection system, the 318, which is specifically designed for strategic applications, has now been fully deployed at the Tyne Tunnel for wrong way detection.
July 24, 2015 Read time: 2 mins

Following a highly successful trial, 559 AGD Systems’ new generation intelligent radar detection system, the 318, which is specifically designed for strategic applications, has now been fully deployed at the Tyne Tunnel for wrong way detection.

While the Tyne Tunnel concessionaire, TT2, had video analysis systems in place within the tunnels to detect vehicles travelling in the wrong direction, this was only detecting the event once an accident risk had arisen.

AGD’s FMCW radar, which uses much of the technology from the company’s Home Office Type Approved enforcement portfolio, is located externally to improve road users’ safety and prevent accidents by monitoring wrong-way detection on the approach to the tunnel. The radar’s criteria is set to alert if a vehicle is travelling the wrong way down one of the lanes.  

It has an easy to use Bluetooth-enabled graphical user interface (GUI) and integrated easily to TT2’s existing tunnel control systems with no for additional software or hardware. The radar also provides a useful ‘heartbeat’ message which confirms the system is still operating and alerting operators in the unlikely event of a system failure.

Hanson Pottinger, technical manager of TT2 explained: “After the redevelopment of the existing Tyne Tunnel and the changes to the road layout on the approach to the tunnel, we had a number of instances when drivers, having mistakenly arrived at the north end of the northbound tunnel have tried to turn themselves around and attempted to return to the south side of the river via the northbound tunnel. It goes without saying that these drivers were putting other road users, who do not expect oncoming traffic in a unidirectional tunnel with a restricted line of sight due to the curvature of the tunnel, at huge risk.”

Ian Hind, commercial director of AGD Systems said: “The 318 offers a unique and distinct platform and is one of our most advanced radar systems to date.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Felix Scheuter, of Haenni Instruments, on effective highway weight enforcement
    September 26, 2013
    Felix Scheuter, managing director at Haenni Instruments, the renowned Switzerland-based mobile scales manufacturer, gives World Highways his views on how best to ensure effective highway weight enforcement The main danger for any road is its gradual destruction by overloaded heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). The more frequently such vehicles use a highway, the faster it is destroyed. Mobile patrol teams using mobile weighing scales are a highly effective way to enforce weight limits aimed at protecting ro
  • 'Conservatism hampering ITS technical evolution'
    November 13, 2012
    Nick Lanigan, managing director of Clearview Traffic, considers the current outlook in the ITS sector from an SME's perspective. Interview with Jason Barnes. When times are hard, businesses can invest or cut. Either way, they need guidance from customers – governments – on where best to concentrate their efforts. Prolonged economic slowdown is currently an issue. A short recession, however sharp, would have left many industry players able to ride the bow-wave of governments’ multi-year spending on strategic
  • Asecap Days 2024: Getting used to the new normal
    August 27, 2024
    Asecap Days 2024 in Milan focused on environmental protection of road infrastructure, digital twin-based maintenance and monitoring of highways as well as the impact of electric vehicles, reports David Arminas
  • Bespoke ITS is helping to reduced collisions on America’s rural roads
    October 22, 2014
    David Crawford cherrypicks conference and award highlights Almost 30% of all US citizens live in rural areas or very small communities, and 34 of the 50 states exceed this level in their own populations, with the proportions rising as high as 85%. And although rural routes carry only 35% of all traffic, the accidents that occur on them account for some 54% of all US road traffic accident deaths.