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Traffic management: an outlook  

By Taslim Ahammad:

Good traffic management is key to achieve the goal of a safe and efficient road network for any country. To ensure the safety of road users, traffic control and road work personnel in construction zones around the country, it is essential to maintain effective traffic management training, registration procedures, specification, monitoring and reengineering.

Traffic management is a key branch within logistics. It concerns the planning, control and purchasing of transport services needed to physically move vehicles (e.g., aircraft, road vehicles, rolling stock and watercraft) and freight. This management refers to the direction, control, and supervision of all vehicles and pedestrian, traffic around, construction zone, workers and the general public. Traffic management plan (TMP) is a specific strategy that covers the design, implementation, maintenance and removal of temporary traffic management (TTM) measures while work or activity is carried out in the road corridor (e.g., road, footpath or berm). There are several ways to control the risks associated with working on or near roads. The following are examples of traffic control measures: (i) road closures (ii) footpath closures (iii) detours (iv) signing and speed reductions (v) traffic controller.

This management is also a mixture of theory and practical live supervised facilitation. Well trained personnel may perform and learn: (i) To plan and prepare the worksite (ii) To use a stop-slow bat (iii) To operate a radio (iv) To coordinate traffic (v) To clean up massive mass (vi) To set out, monitor and close down the traffic guidance scheme using signage.

Traffic control: Road traffic control devices are markers, signs and signal devices used to inform, guide and control traffic, including pedestrians, motor vehicle drivers, bicyclists and others. These devices are usually placed adjacent, over or along the highways, roads, traffic facilities and other public areas that require traffic control. Also, (i) driving safely in traffic (ii) maintain a gap between cars (iii) stay at a consistent speed (iv) avoid changing lanes too often (v) allow other drivers to merge into the lane (vi) pay attention to the road conditions (vii) avoid taking eyes off the road (viii) pull over quickly and completely if there a problem.

To avoid traffic jams: (i) adjust schedule to avoid heavy rush hours (ii) turn on the radio station that reports on live traffic updates and adjust your route (iii) use alternative roads (iv) use public transportation (v) professional GPS tracking (vi) bicycles and motorbikes.

Extra lanes at rush hours: An extra lane on the left- or right-hand side of the highway may open in busy periods. An extra lane may be recognised by signs that indicate where an extra lane begins and ends. If the extra lane open, then the green arrows are lit up on the electronic signs above the road.

Entrance ramp control: On the entrance ramp control, trucks and private cars are only allowed on the highways in small numbers. This is done by controlling the traffic on the entrance ramp with traffic lights. To determine how many vehicles may drive on a motorway, the system measures how many vehicles there are on the motorway and how fast they are driving. The system subsequently calculates how many vehicles on the entrance ramp may actually enter the motorway.

Traffic lights: The traffic lights team advises road managers (municipalities, provinces and the state) on the adjustment of traffic control systems such as traffic lights. This advice results in better circulation, more traffic safety, shorter waiting times, fewer emissions of particulates and a longer lifetime of the systems.

Incident management: Breakdowns and accidents on the road network, the police, social workers, rescuers, ambulance and road inspectors from the executive support by the all (relevant Ministry and Ministry of infrastructure and the Environment) need to work closely together to free the scene of an accident as quickly as possible and quickly allow the traffic to flow. This method is call “incident management”. The traffic centre also need to plays an important role in incident management.

Future roads innovation programme: This programme need to focuses primarily on finding smart solutions for traffic jams and environmental pollution. Examples are a floating road, flexible road marking with the aid of lights in the road’s surface and the use of roll-up asphalt and so on. Citizens, businesses, authorities and research institutes may work together in the programme.

Road warning signs: Warning signs let everyone know that road changes coming up on drive. These can be permanent or temporary traffic hazards and obstacles. Warning signs can warn about: (i) merging lanes or added lanes (ii) narrowing of the road (iii) corners or changes in the direction of the road (iv) highway and motorway entry and exits (v) crossings on the road for pedestrians, farm animals, or wildlife (vi) roundabouts, stops, or give-ways (vii) changes to the road’s surface or condition, for example, road humps, unsealed roads, rain, hail or ice, or falling rocks and so on.

Change in road direction ahead: These warning signs let you know the road is going to change direction. Change in the road direction ahead signs may show: (i) curve, have a sharp turn, or wind for a distance (ii) have an approaching intersection or change in traffic direction (iii) have a steep descent, dip, crest or incline (iv) narrow because of a bridge (v) have a lane merging or starting (vi) have a recommended exiting speed due to the road direction.

Watch out for pedestrians, cyclists, school zones, and wildlife: These warning signs should show upcoming obstacle and one must be on the lookout for: (i) school zones (ii) pedestrians (iii) cyclists (iv) wildlife living in the area. Everyone must should prepare for these warning signs.

Driving for the road conditions: These signs warn, how the weather and environment can change the road condition because it: (i) floods (ii) is unsealed or under construction (iii) is affected by weather conditions. Everyone must drive to the conditions of the road.

Traffic management training: Traffic management training will allows to set up and prepare a site also provides required competency for interpretation and implementation of the traffic management plan and system. This training also provide knowledge on how to ensure a safe environment for construction and maintenance and the general public. To deliver effective traffic management on the roads, the department need to specify a number of targeted training programmes.

Traffic management is necessary to ensure safe environment that pedestrians and every other users may clear from danger. Not only traffic management is necessary, however, also road traffic signs are important to ensure smooth traffic flow. To ensure effective traffic management within the country, this effort tried to specifies the training required for traffic management personnel, awareness, everyone must follow the traffic rules and setup a very strong traffic management authority. This work also outlines the requirements for traffic management in a variety of technical terms, matters, viewpoint and specifications.

Taslim Ahammad, Assistant Professor

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj, Bangladesh.

taslim.ahammad@gmail.com