Motorway Incident Detection and Automatic Signalling: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Road traffic sensor}}

:{{otherusesofother uses of|MIDAS}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2017}}

'''Motorway Incident Detection and Automatic Signalling''', usually abbreviated to '''MIDAS''', is a UK distributed network of [[traffic]] [[sensor]]s, mainly inductive loops (trialling at the moment radar technology by Wavetronix and magneto-resistive wireless sensors by Clearview Intelligence), which are designed to alert the local regional control centre (RCC) to [[traffic flow]] and average speeds, and set [[variable message sign]]s and advisory speed limits with(or littlemandatory humanspeed intervention.limits On the M25 andon [[M42smart motorway]]s,) thewith MIDASlittle helpshuman setintervention. mandatoryCompanies variablesuch speedas limitRAC, signsTomTom asand partGoogle ofuse thethis ''controlledtraffic motorwayflow data via halogens reporting scheme''systems.

Originally installed on the congested western stretch of the [[M25 motorway]], much of the [[M60 motorway]] around [[Manchester]] and the Birmingham box (M6, M5 and M42), MIDAS has been installed on all but the most minor stretches of UK motorway. The system has successfully reduced accidents.<ref name="hacost">{{cite web|url=http://www.ha-research.co.uk/projects/index.php?id=437|title=Cost effectiveness of MIDAS|publisher=Highways Agency|accessdate=2007-01-07|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008103143/http://www.ha-research.co.uk/projects/index.php?id=437|archivedate=8 October 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Additionally, the system is installed on parts of the non-motorway trunk road network including the [[A14 road (England)|A14]].<ref name="A14">{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/22585.aspx |title=A14 Corridor Traffic Management Scheme |publisher=Highways Agency |accessdate=2011-07-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605103135/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/22585.aspx |archivedate=5 June 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Although all stretches with MIDAS have at least small signals in the central reservation to show advisory speed limits for the whole carriageway, major motorways often also have text [[Variable-message sign|variable message signs]], and on the busiest stretches, lane control signals above each lane. Additionally, many motorways, called [[smart motorway]]s, have now been equipped with the newest signs and signals for variable mandatory speed limits and lane control.

It is presently ([[2006]]) installed on several sections of the United Kingdom's busiest motorways, such as the congested western stretch of the [[M25 motorway]] and much of the [[M60 motorway]] around [[Manchester]], the Birmingham box (M6, M5 and M42) and the system has successfully reduced accidents <ref>{{cite_web|url=http://www.ha-research.co.uk/projects/index.php?id=437|title=Cost effectiveness of MIDAS|accessdate =2007-01-07}}</ref>

The system replaced the ''Automatic Incident Detection (AID)'' system which was trialled in 1989 on an 83 km section of the [[M1 motorway]]. MIDAS was first installed on the M25 in 1997, after this section already had the variable speed limit (''controlled motorway'') scheme.

By March 2006, the [[Highways Agency]] aims to have MIDAS installed on more than 910km of the English motorway network.

The system replaced the ''Automatic Incident Detection '''(AID)''' system which was trialled in 1989 on an {{convert|83 |km|0}} section of the [[M1 motorway]].<ref name="hacost" /> MIDAS was first installedoperated on the M25 in 1997,the afterSouthWest thisquadrant before the section alreadywent hadlive thewith a variable speed limit (''controlled motorway'') scheme.

By March 2006, the [[National Highways Agency]] aimsaimed to have MIDAS installed on more than 910km{{convert|910|km|0}} of the English motorway network.{{specify|date=December 2011}}

==See also==

* [[Electronic Monitoring and Advisory System]] - a similar type of system in Singapore

* [[Freeway Traffic Management System]]

==External links==

*[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080926005822/www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/documents/b040206_v1.2.pdf Highways Agency: Variable Message Signs (VMS)] (PDF)

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{refimprove}}

[[Category:CarAutomotive safety]]

[[Category:RoadTraffic infrastructuresignals]]

[[Category:Road transport in England]]

[[Category:Traffic signs]]