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Figel: New Intelligent Traffic System to Be Introduced on Motorways
Wednesday 08 December 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, December 8 (TASR) - A new 'intelligent' traffic system should increase safety on Slovak motorways in the future, Transport Minister Jan Figel (Christian Democrats/KDH) said on Wednesday in the wake of the major crash on the D1 motorway near Bratislava a day earlier involving more than 20 vehicles and claiming one casualty.
"The system regulates the maximum speed [according to current conditions], for example, and informs drivers of other necessary instructions. The first section to be equipped with the system will be the D1 motorway, of course," said Figel.
The Transport Minister pointed out that the D1 stretch between Bratislava and Trnava should still be viewed as a construction site.
This busy motorway section, which was reconstructed last year, saw the emergency lane removed in a bid to increase the number of lanes from two to three – four to six including both directions. Following several tragic accidents, the speed limit on the stretch was reduced from 130 to 110 kmph as of November 1, with the speed limit on the far right lane squeezed to only 80 kmph. The Transport Ministry wants to continue in construction of the stretch in order to ensure that it is equipped with a regular emergency lane.
The road accident on Tuesday was caused by heavy fog resulting in reduced visibility and cars crashing into one another from behind after the initial disruption of the traffic flow. Five ambulances were called to the scene, and six injured were taken to hospitals in Bratislava, including one passenger suffering serious injuries.
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