Automated measuring system for specially permitted commercial vehicles
The operation of vehicles with specifications (e.g. weight, length, and height) exceeding the legislative limits is subject to the permission of the road administrator and must be in accordance with the terms stated in the permission. However, with the development of effective freight transportation and the increase in the use of large, heavy lorries, the number of vehicles not conforming to such terms and vehicles without permission is increasing.
To address this problem, the Automated Measuring System for Specially Permitted Commercial Vehicles, which is capable of detecting vehicles with specifications (such as axle load, weight, length, width, and height) exceeding Cabinet Order on Vehicle Restriction and the vehicle number round-the-clock, was introduced in November 1997 at the section on the National Highway No.43 between Amagasaki City and the Nada District of Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. Upon detecting a vehicle whose axle load is considerably larger than the limit, the system gives a warning to the driver using a message sign ahead of the vehicle.
A database, which stores measurement data obtained at each monitoring point and transmitted to the control office on-line, was introduced in 2001. The measurement data are analyzed, and warning is given to the owner, user, and driver of vehicles which repeatedly exceed Cabinet Order on Vehicle Restriction. This will help reduce illegal vehicles, maintain road structures, preserve the environment along roads, and prevent accidents on the road.
In the future, the system will be modified to identify vehicles with and without permission by comparison against vehicles with permission in the database.
[Hyogo National Highway Work Office of the Kinki Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport]
Outline of the system
Automated measuring system for specially permitted commercial vehicles installed on the National Highway No.43
ITS HANDBOOK 2001-2002iSep 2001j