TrafficInfraTech Magazine Linking People Places & Progress
Weighty needs for Weight enforcement
According to Ashish Bhutani, MD, Ashbee Systems Pvt Ltd, weight enforcement is crucial not only for policy compliance but also as a significant potential revenue source. While ensuring adherence to regulations is important, the financial aspect of weight enforcement is often overlooked
How can weigh-in-motion (WIM) technology significantly enhance tolling operations, especially Global Navigation Satellite System applications in India?
There are several ways:
Data Integration: High Speed WIMs can integrate with GNSS to provide real-time weight and location data of vehicles. This helps in monitoring and managing traffic and road usage more effectively.
Compliance and Enforcement: Usage of High Speed WIM allows for automated enforcement of weight regulations. It ensures that overloaded vehicles are identified and penalized based on precise location data, improving compliance with weight limits.
Traffic Management: WIM data can be used to analyze traffic patterns and vehicle load distribution. It provides detailed insights into road usage, helping authorities plan maintenance and upgrades more efficiently.
Accident Investigation: In case of accidents, WIM data can help determine if overloading was a contributing factor. With GNSS, it provides accurate location and movement data, aiding in investigations and improving safety measures.
Infrastructure Planning: Data from High-Speed WIM and GNSS can be used to assess the impact of vehicle loads on road infrastructure. This helps in designing roads and bridges that can better withstand traffic demands and reduce maintenance costs.
As we move towards GNSS based tolling, we should make a policy to install HSWIM on expressways as it can weigh up to 120km/hr speed.
– Ashish Bhutani
What are the concerns with over loading?
Safety Risks: Vehicles are harder to control and have longer braking distances, increasing the risk of accidents and can result in severe collisions when accidents occur.
Road Damage: Excessive weight can cause severe damage to roads, leading to quicker deterioration and increased maintenance costs. One overloaded truck causes damage equal to 20000 thousand cars. Frequent repair works will affect overall traffic flow. The additional costs for both the roads and vehicles can increase operational costs leading
to higher taxes or tolls to fund road projects.
Vehicle Damage: It puts extra strain on a vehicle’s engine, suspension, and tires, leading to faster wear and tear and higher maintenance costs.
Traffic Congestion: Overloaded vehicles can contribute to traffic congestion due to their slower speeds and higher likelihood of breakdowns disrupting traffic.
Challenges in the current Infra Ecosystem
Lengthy queues at toll plazas impede quick passage through lanes, causing delays and frustration for commuters. Intense market competition has led to the installation of substandard OEM equipment, including Weigh-in-Motion systems, prioritizing low cost over quality and performance.
Weighing systems operate in isolation due to poor integration with Traffic Management Systems, hindering effective data management. Existing weighing systems are frequently underutilized and poorly maintained. Instead of exploring cost-effective options like refurbishment or retrofitting, these systems are often replaced entirely under Change of Scope (COS) projects, resulting in significant and unnecessary expenditure of public funds.
What changes can be incorporated in the current policy framework?
HSWIM, though proven technology internationally has never been installed on Indian highways. As we move towards GNSS based tolling, we should make a policy to install HSWIM on expressways as it can weigh up to 120km/hr speed. GNSS based tolling in Europe has HSWIMs installed on their highways.
Specifications for HSWIM based on internationally accepted standards suitable for Indian roads should be deliberated and discussed between NHAI and industry experts to finalize specifications and incorporate these in the BOQ required for expressways. GNSS based tolling in Europe has HSWIMs installed on their highways.