TrafFix Devices Inc. has developed the Sentinel Impact Tracker to solve 2 specific issues facing Departments of Transportation, Road Operators, Turnpike Authorities, and Municipalities.
- How do they know when their crash cushions and other fixed roadway devices have been struck by a car or truck?
- How do they know the number of crash devices they have in the field, their type, where they are placed and geographic conditions?
Using the Sentinel’s various capabilities, users can solve these problems. The Sentinel Impact Tracker and its dashboard allows users to know where their devices are at all times and get immediate notification of an impact – all from a computer or mobile device.
Why is this important?
TrafFix installed several devices as part of a pilot program with California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) including one in San Diego on November 20, 2020.
On January 26, 2021, a mere 68 days later, an impact occurred.
The Ford truck had a family in it. The driver delayed on the exit and tried to make it last second.
The truck struck the attenuator that luckily had a Sentinel installed. When impacted, the Sentinel sent the alert to the local CalTrans office. The manager got the alert, and knew he had a crew just down the road. The crew had just finished their work, so he sent them over to see what happened.
The CalTrans crew arrived just a couple of minutes after the impact. As it turns out, the impact was severe enough that the doors on the truck were bound and would not open. The truck had also caught fire and was starting to burn – with the family trapped inside.
The CalTrans workers were able to get the doors open and get the family out. Everyone was okay. The CalTrans team also started trying to get the fire under control. As they were working, the fire department arrived. Without the Sentinel and the quick work of the CalTrans crew, the outcome could have been very different.
TrafFix Devices continues to develop and deploy life saving devices on our roads every day!