“Measures such as updating our procedures, enhancing safety features, using high-visibility reflective work gear and clothing, as well as introducing road safety innovations have brought the desired effect,” informed Mr. Rastislav Droppa, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors and Operations Section Director of NDS.
NDS uses a wide range of safety features and equipment to protect road workers, such as warning thresholds, traffic cone signal thresholds, directional signs with warning lights, warning light arrows, mobile closure information boards, portable light arrows, LED panels on Motorway Patrol vehicles, LED warning lights and beacons, vertical road markings and real-time speed cameras. The worksite is also secured using heavy vehicles and vehicles with mobile closure information boards. We have also introduced a new safety feature to protect road workers from potential vehicle impact and injury – concrete crash barriers. The concrete crash barriers are installed before the start of the works and removed from the worksite once the works are completed.
The use of real-time speed cameras showing the actual speed on a display is also an additional safety feature. “The concrete crash barriers prevent a moving vehicle from crashing into the area of the worksite, thus protecting our employees, and our heavy vehicles with or without a driver do not need to be standing on site as crash barriers and can be used elsewhere,” explained Mr. Droppa.
Part of the newly introduced and tested safety equipment are also special vehicles for the installation of modules for traffic flow management, i.e. for the installation of LED information boards informing road users of any exceptional circumstances on the motorway, speed limits, or road works. The automated manipulation with such modules ensures that NDS employees do not need to get out on the road and be at risk.
The new “Rescue Lane” traffic signs also contribute to better-informed drivers and increased safety. These signs are designed to alert and inform the drivers about the proper way to form the rescue lane to enable the emergency services to arrive on time where needed.
NDS has also invested in improving the equipment of its Motorway Patrol vehicles. The vehicles are now also equipped with AED devices. AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) are life-saving medical devices essential for handling emergencies like sudden cardiac arrest.