Skip to main content

NEMA publishes new standard for portable traffic signals

The US National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published NEMA TS 5-2017 Portable Traffic Signal Systems (PTSS) Standard.
May 22, 2017 Read time: 1 min

The US 7174 National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published NEMA TS 5-2017 Portable Traffic Signal Systems (PTSS) Standard. This new standard covers traffic signalling equipment used to enable and expedite the safe movement of vehicle traffic in work zones during roadway construction, such as single-lane road closures during emergencies and planned events.

PTSS are commonly used to supersede flag use during roadway construction. While PTSS are used most commonly for single-lane road closures, they are also used during or after times of emergencies, planned events and non-normative vehicular signalisation needs.

PTSS are also used before or while permanent signals are being installed to reduce traffic bottlenecks and improve intersection safety during these transition times. PTSS are designed to enable critical movement of traffic using the implementation of appropriate new and existing standards.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Communications hold key to expanding ITS wireless network expansion
    December 21, 2017
    Wireless transmission of data and control information is making smarter traffic management easier and cheaper to install. It has long been known that connectivity is the key to improving traffic management and many cost-benefit studies prove that investment in new technology can be justified in terms of reduced congestion, shorter travel times, improved safety and air quality. However, many authorities’ cap-ex budgets only cover urgent matters, not improvements, making it difficult, if not impossible to
  • How ITS helped Coachella get its groove back
    November 15, 2024
    California’s Coachella Valley attracts visitors to myriad music and sports events. But now an ambitious traffic management initiative aims to cut travel times and reduce emissions. Adam Hill talks to the engineers involved in the massive CV Sync project
  • Queensland extends emergency vehcile priority system
    December 18, 2014
    Following encouraging results from an initial small-scale trial of an emergency vehicle priority system in Queensland, Australia, the scheme is now being extended. In an emergency every second counts. Nowhere is this more graphically illustrated than by the survivability statistics for the time to cardiopulmonary resuscitation of pre-hospital cardiac arrest: at four minutes the survival rate is 22% but by 14 minutes the survival has dropped to 5% - as can be seen from the graph below. There is a similar tre
  • Measuring alertness to avert drowsy driver incidents
    December 21, 2015
    Falling asleep at the wheel is the primary cause in thousands of deaths on American and other roads, with truck drivers the most at-risk group. David Crawford investigates measures to counter drowsy driving.