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This site is for everyone concerned with Road Traffic Control Management, Asset Security and Safety. Presenting Products News & Views (updated daily).  

We value your feedback,  your likes, dislikes, how we can improve this site and so forth.   

 CONE NEWS

The humble traffic cone is to be updated with a version that features lights which flash in sequence to help drivers navigate diversion layouts and guide them into the right lanes.            

It is the latest modification to an object that has been a mainstay of road layouts for 50 years and is now so common and recognisable that it often cited as a design classic.

Last year 2m cones were made in Britain and there are thought to be 6,000 stored or in use around the M25 — stacked on top of each other they would make a pile 10 times higher than Big Ben.

Traffic cones were invented in 1914 by an American, Charles P Rudabaker. His version for use on the streets of New York was made out of concrete. The first cones used in Britain were to replace red lantern paraffin burners during the construction of the Preston bypass, which opened in 1958.

The design of the modern plastic cone was refined by David Morgan of Oxford in 1961 while working for the chemical giant ICI. He currently holds the Guinness World Record for a collection of 137 different cones.

Today all cones have to conform to the standard BS EN 13422, which specifies a weight and vertical angle for every type of cone. This also ensures cones of different makes can still be stacked one on top of the other.

Sizes vary depending on where a cone will be used. The higher the road speed, the taller the cone needs to be. Motorway contractors use metre-high models costing about £12 each, while slower city traffic requires a smaller 75cm model.

They are usually made from recycled material such as the PVC from electrical wire insulation.

Source: Times On-line June 2008

 HOT NEWS

CARAVAN THEFT

Midlands is Caravan Bermuda Triangle

Bandits pinch 4,000 caravans a year

11 June 2008

Empty spaces on driveways and disappearances from storage sites are common across the UK with around 4,000¹ British caravans vanishing every year according to data from AA Caravan Insurance.

At a time when caravanners are dusting off their 'vans for the summer, owners in the Midlands should be most vigilant with more disappearances in the 'Caravan Bermuda Triangle' than anywhere else in Britain.

"We believe ten per cent² more caravans vanish in an area bordered by Leicester, Coventry, Birmingham and Nottingham," says Simon Douglas, head of AA Caravan Insurance. "The triangle of trouble is drawn along the popular motorway network of the M6, M42 and M1 which provide quick getaway routes for thieves," says Simon Douglas.

He adds: "Caravanning is increasing in popularity and we're seeing more caravans being stolen to order, especially larger, luxury twin-axle models. Three-quarters of those stolen disappear without trace and are never recovered."

Increasingly, disappearances are down to organised caravan theft rackets with specific, high-value caravans that will fetch a good price being targeted. A common tactic is stealing direct from driveways when the owners are enjoying a last cup of tea. "Thieves look for opportunities when caravans are unattended but not secured – for instance with a wheelclamp – and that could be anywhere, including motorway service areas."

AA Insurance has also found a steady rise in caravan disappearances from storage sites revealing that these are premeditated crimes.

Simon Douglas points out: "These disappearances are well thought out criminal plans with real rewards. There is a real trend towards particular models being targeted and sometimes, several vans may disappear from one site. They are even craned out and on to a lorry for a quick getaway."

Security Measures

Owners can help and get premium reductions by taking security measures that include:

• Wheel clamps – these are the minimum insurance requirement and should be used whenever the caravan is unattended – modern clamps are easy to apply but very difficult for thieves to remove.
• Chassis locks – increasingly supplied as standard, these lock the wheels in a fixed position
• Hitch locks – some come with an alarm while corner steady locks will prevent the front of the van from being lifted on to a thief's vehicle.

• If you have a high-value caravan your insurer may insist on an electronic tag or tracking device being fitted – in any case, such protection will attract insurance discounts.

• Make sure that out of season, your caravan is safe. Choose a site operated by the Caravan Storage Site Owners' Association (CaSSOA); check that security is good (for example, secure posts to which your caravan can be hitch-locked, ground anchors, security staff or cctv).

Sources

¹Data from The Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme

²Data from AA Caravan Insurance claims experience

 HOT NEWS  

Launched today The Black Box Movement Recorder Tracker Specifically Designed for Caravans Motorhomes and Vehicles.

New GPS tracking option - the Black Box Movement Recorder tracker. With its 3 year battery life, the Black Box will track your assets without the need for an external power source (battery is rechargable).

When it is not in use, this unit will enter "sleep mode", which is a battery saving mode, which will only allow the unit to send its location every 8 hours. Once moved, it will leave sleep mode and enter "active mode". It will then act as a vehicle tracker and will send its location every 5 minutes.

Technical Specification

• Quad Band GSM/GPRS
• High Sensitivity SIRF STAR III GPS IP67
  
• Internal GSM and GPS antenna
• Wake Up 1-24 hours
• 3-wire option
• Nominal 3 years rechargable internal battery (daily update)
• Over the air programmable
• Cell ID Backup

Please Note: For a variety of reasons, one of them being credit card fraud, Cones and other traffic management products cannot be ordered on-line with a credit card!

Call our sales line 0191 431 2826  or email your orders euroint@btinternet.com the choice is yours.

Euroworld are a registered Blue Light supplier to the Police and Emergency Services, The Armed Forces, Airport Authorities, Local Authorities and Sensitive Installation Contractors.

 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

We have got rid of our FAX machine in order to save paper, protect trees and save money too - so please delete our FAX Number from your files - instead send us an email with your order as an attachment.  THANKS.