A Safer Airport for Everyone
A bustling, international airport preempts potential disruption with solutions to keep cars moving at safe speeds on the airport’s busiest roads.
The Client
One of the newest airports in India, a beautiful modern structure, sees over 33 million passengers each year and over 650 flights every day. Constructed in 2008 to meet growing demand for travel to the Silicon Valley of India, the airport is the third busiest in all of India. The fully solar powered airport was named Best Airport in Asia-Pacific in 2020 by Airports Council International. With two runways, a state-of-the-art passenger terminal, and daily domestic and international flights, the airport is busy around the clock helping people get where they need to go.
The Challenge
The busiest external section of the airport sees shuttles, passenger cars, cargo vehicles, and emergency response come and go at all hours of the day and night. The airport recognized that a potential crash in this area could cause complete disruption to the entire system in addition to compromising the safety of passengers and personnel.
The speed limit on airport roads is 20 kmph but many drivers were overspeeding despite fixed speed signage and speed breakers. The airport wanted a solution that would make drivers more aware of their speeds and alert them to slow down. They also wanted to be able to identify offenders, and if necessary, ban repeat violators from driving at the airport.
The Solution
SafePace Evolution signs and Guardian speed cameras from Traffic Logix were installed at the airport to slow cars and enforce speed limits. The Evolution signs display driver speeds in bright LED digits to alert them in real-time to slow down when they’re overspeeding. The Guardian cameras capture images of vehicles who overspeed, sending them challans to prevent future offenses. Both the signs and cameras send a clear message to drivers that overspeeding will not be tolerated.
The cloud-connected cameras and signs give the airport insight into driver behavior and precise statistics on speeding and speed violations. They are able to monitor the changes the new solutions have created as well as see when and where overspeeding is occurring and who is responsible. They have access to traffic data and detailed reports on speed violations right from their desks.
Benefits
Since the driver feedback signs and speed cameras have been installed at the airport, they’ve seen a marked difference in the way people drive. Data from the SafePace Cloud shows that drivers have become more cautious since the signs and cameras were installed, and that people are driving slower and more safely. Speeders who don’t obey posted speed laws receive automated challans by mail. Repeat offenders are blacklisted and can not drive at the airport. The end result has been a driving environment that is safer for everyone and an airport that can run efficiently without concern for dangerous or reckless driving.
In response to the improvements to safe driving, the airport is considering plans to order more interactive speed signs and cameras for additional areas of the airport as well. “We’re impressed at how accurate and reliable the technology is,” commented a senior airport official, “Drivers instantly react to the signs and the result has been that the airport is really safer for everyone.”
