Skip to main content

Green screens cause drivers to slow down

A high risk collision site on the busy A574 in the UK has been made safer thanks to the installation of environmentally friendly Green Screens. The 1.8m high screens have been installed on the approach to the roundabout at the junction of Birchwood Way and Woolston Grange Avenue and mean that approaching vehicles have to slow down when approaching the roundabout. Warrington Borough Council explained that as the roundabout is large, many motorists approaching from the direction of the M6 motorway do so at s
February 15, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A high risk collision site on the busy A574 in the UK has been made safer thanks to the installation of environmentally friendly Green Screens. The 1.8m high screens have been installed on the approach to the roundabout at the junction of Birchwood Way and Woolston Grange Avenue and mean that approaching vehicles have to slow down when approaching the roundabout.
Warrington Borough Council explained that as the roundabout is large, many motorists approaching from the direction of the M6 motorway do so at speed because they have a good view and can be over-confident about joining traffic on the roundabout. This has resulted in collisions when motorists have misjudged the manoeuvre and there have been many occasions when vehicles on the approach to the roundabout have had to stop suddenly, causing following vehicles to collide.
The Green Screens feature wire fencing covered with ivy and obstruct the view of the roundabout as motorists approach, encouraging drivers to slow down. This technique provides an effective way of reducing collisions. Warrington Borough Council chose Green Screens over traditional wooden fencing or walling because the products offer environmental benefits and require minimal maintenance.
So far 100 Green Screens have been installed on the A574 approach to the roundabout, with another 40 Screens installed on the B5210 Woolston Grange Avenue approach.

Related Content

  • The UK’s pothole crisis is causing vehicle damage and crashes
    July 1, 2019
    The poor state of maintenance of UK roads is a factor in many crashes while also causing damage to vehicles according to road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart. In a bid to address the issue, IAM RoadSmart is calling for a long-term plan to tackle the problem. According to a survey it conducted, nearly 50% of the respondents have experienced pothole damage to their vehicles. The government’s Transport Select Committee has issued a report stating that the current short-term approach to financing road maintenan
  • Delta Bloc solution for major upgrade to UK’s M6 motorway
    February 8, 2018
    Delta Bloc’s structural precast concrete barriers have been supplied for a €308 million smart motorway project being undertaken by Highways England on the M6 Motorway. UK contractor Charcon Construction Solutions worked with Delta Bloc UK, which develops, manufactures, supplies and installs permanent and temporary concrete road safety barriers. The Highways England scheme between junction 16 at Crewe and junction 19 at Knutsford has seen a new 32km concrete safety barrier installed in the central reservat
  • Distracted driving report from European nations
    December 11, 2017
    There are now calls from right across Europe to increase education, enforcement and penalties for distracted driving. Surveys across Europe have revealed worrying attitudes to the use of mobile devices while driving, according to a report by the European Transport and Safety Commission (ETSC). Campaigners are calling for better enforcement, higher penalties, technological solutions and education to raise awareness of the risks. A survey in the Czech Republic found that 36% of drivers admitted using their
  • Apps for all in Louisiana
    May 20, 2020
    Jason Barnes* looks at how a system of engagement (SoE) from software specialist Esri helped the US state of Louisiana’s transportation department create user-friendly apps