The rhythm of urban life is regulated by a multitude of elements: the hum of vehicles, the movement of people, the change of traffic lights, and the clear instructions of road safety signage. These elements form a seamless tapestry that guides the flow of our cities, ensuring that all who traverse them can do so both safely and efficiently.
Woven into the complex tapestry of urban life is Corsign, a renowned company headquartered in the vibrant city of Perth. Our company plays a pivotal role in maintaining and enhancing the safety measures that ensure the smooth functioning of our everyday lives.
Understanding the current scenario
Safety on the roads is a collective responsibility. It’s not just about infrastructure design and traffic regulation, but also about the behaviour and attitudes of road users. Despite the efforts made in promoting road safety, accidents remain an unfortunate reality.
According to the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics, in 2022, there were 1,194 road crash deaths in Australia. This is an increase of 5.8 per cent from 2021. A significant portion of these casualties were pedestrians. While recently various road safety measures have led to a general downward trend in these figures, there’s still substantial room for improvement.
Recognising the challenges
The path to improved pedestrian, walkway, and road safety has its challenges. Among them is the continuous growth of urban areas which often leads to increased traffic and congestion, posing a significant risk to pedestrians. Ageing infrastructure, inadequate signage, and the rapid advancement of vehicle technologies also contribute to the complexity of the situation.
Additionally, behavioural factors like distracted driving or walking, impaired driving, and disregard for traffic rules further exacerbate the problem. As a solution-driven company, Corsign is devoted to addressing these challenges through innovative and effective strategies.
Why is signage critical for pedestrian, walkway, and road safety?
- Guidance: Road signs are essential for providing direction and geographical information to motorists. For instance, signs indicating turns, exits, overhead bridges, underpasses, and intersections help motorists navigate complex road networks effectively. This is particularly important in unfamiliar locations, such as when a driver is in a new city or on an unfamiliar highway. Without proper signage, drivers could become lost or disoriented, leading to dangerous situations like sudden braking or reversing on busy roads.
- Regulation: Road signs function as non-verbal communication tools for traffic laws and regulations. They dictate the speed at which vehicles can travel, where they can park, when they should yield or stop, and more. Traffic lights, stop signs, and yield signs are all regulatory signs designed to control the flow of traffic and reduce the risk of collisions. A lack of regulatory signage can lead to chaos on the roads, with drivers unaware of the rules or simply ignoring them, leading to increased accidents.
- Information: Informative signs provide necessary details about road conditions. This includes signs marking road works, slippery roads, narrowing lanes, roundabouts, or any other significant road features or changes. This advance information allows drivers to adjust their speed or plan their manoeuvres well in advance, reducing sudden, dangerous movements. Informational signage also helps to manage traffic flow during peak hours and in congested areas.
- Warning: Warning signs play a vital role in alerting drivers to potential hazards. They may indicate upcoming sharp turns, pedestrian crossings, school zones, animal crossings, or other potential dangers. By giving drivers time to slow down and take appropriate precautions, these signs play a crucial role in accident prevention.
- Pedestrian safety: Pedestrian signage is essential for the safety of those on foot. Signs like crossing signs, school crossing signs, and pedestrian signs warn drivers of pedestrian activity, promoting caution. On the other hand, these signs also guide pedestrians, indicating safe places to cross roads and reminding them to stay vigilant. By delineating safe spaces for pedestrians to cross, these signs help to prevent pedestrian-involved accidents.
- Promotes uniformity: Road signs are standardised, which promotes uniformity in road behaviour. This means that a stop sign in one city has the same meaning in another. Such consistency reduces the chance of misunderstandings and confusion on the road, regardless of where one is driving.
- Emergency situations: Road signs also assist during emergencies. Emergency services like ambulances, fire trucks, and police vehicles depend on clear, accurate road signage to reach their destinations quickly. Signs indicating hospitals, police stations, or escape routes in the event of natural disasters are life-saving.
- Environmental protection: Certain signs help protect the environment by alerting drivers to wildlife crossings or environmentally sensitive areas where extra care must be taken.
Elevating safety measures: a multifaceted approach
Enhancing pedestrian, walkway, and road safety is not a simple task. It requires an approach that combines several strategies, including improved signage, intelligent traffic management, comprehensive education for road users, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and regular audits.
Signage innovation
Road signs are the unsung heroes of traffic safety. They provide crucial information, warn of potential hazards, and guide drivers and pedestrians alike. However, their effectiveness relies on their visibility, clarity, and strategic placement. At Corsign, we are committed to designing signs that are not only durable and aesthetically pleasing but also intuitive and informative.
Intelligent traffic management
Technology is playing an ever-increasing role in improving road safety. Adaptive traffic signals, smart pedestrian crossing systems, and automated speed enforcement systems can significantly reduce accidents. These systems use sensors, AI algorithms, and data analytics to adapt to real-time traffic conditions and enforce traffic rules more effectively.
Comprehensive road user education
While infrastructure and technology are crucial, the role of human behaviour in road safety cannot be downplayed. Educating road users about the significance of road rules, pedestrian rights, and the purpose of different traffic signs is essential in fostering a culture of safety. Corsign actively partners with educational institutions, local communities, and government agencies to promote road safety awareness.
Pedestrian-friendly infrastructure
Designing infrastructure with the safety of pedestrians in mind can significantly reduce accidents. This involves the creation of well-marked pedestrian crossings, adequate sidewalks, safe waiting areas, and the use of barriers where necessary to protect pedestrians from traffic.
Regular infrastructure audits
Road infrastructure needs regular audits and maintenance to remain effective. This includes checking the visibility and condition of road signs, repainting faded road markings, and repairing any damage to the infrastructure.
Comprehensive traffic management solutions from Corsign
Corsign is more than just a provider of traffic signs in Perth, we are a one-stop-shop for all your traffic management needs. We offer a wide array of products and services designed to ensure safe and efficient traffic control, whether it’s for events, regular road use, or during roadworks.
Diverse traffic management products
Our extensive range includes highway and freeway signage, traffic signboards, delineation, bollards, and more. We provide signs for all circumstances, including cyclist paths, potential hazards, and roadwork.
Specialised signs & control products
Our temporary road work signs are essential for managing traffic during construction or maintenance. Alongside these, we provide traffic control products such as cones, bollards, and barrier mesh for directing traffic and establishing safe buffer zones.
Delineation & road furniture
We supply delineation products like guideposts and solar lights for increased visibility and road safety. Our road furniture, including pedestrian handrails, speed humps, and wheel stops are designed to slow traffic and enhance safety.
Expert services
Beyond supplying equipment, Corsign offers expert advice, installation assistance, custom manufacturing services, and project management for larger projects. As an ISO 9001-certified company, all our signs are designed and manufactured following Australian Standards.
Safety measures specific to Western Australia
Western Australia (WA) presents both unique challenges as well as opportunities when it comes to road safety. The vastness of the state, the diversity of its landscapes, and the varying levels of urbanisation across regions all impact how we approach road safety.
In urban areas like Perth, the focus might be on improving pedestrian safety in high-traffic areas, managing the flow of traffic during congestion, and ensuring clear communication of road rules through effective signage. Corsign has been instrumental in these areas, providing highly visible, durable signage that aids in traffic management and pedestrian safety.
In contrast, rural and remote areas of WA present a different set of challenges. Here, the focus might shift towards warning signage for wildlife crossings, guidance for changing road conditions, and ensuring drivers are aware of the significant distances between towns. Corsign’s innovative designs and robust materials ensure our signs withstand harsh weather conditions and provide clear, critical information to motorists even in the most remote areas of WA.
Conclusion
Corsign transcends its role as a road and traffic safety signs service provider, embodying a mission for safer roads. We are a dedicated team, consistently innovating and educating for safer environments. Our commitment is two-fold, involving both technological advancements and the cultivation of a safety-first culture. We firmly advocate for pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, driving our efforts to design and implement safe walkways. Our aim is to create safer roads for all Australians, a goal we believe is attainable through collaboration, technological innovation, and commitment. We measure our success not merely by advanced signs or technology, but by fostering a society valuing safety and mutual respect. Get in touch today.
