Westcotec has introduced a new warning sign to help horse riders cross busy roads in West Berkshire, UK.
Horse riders in West Berkshire are being helped to cross busy rural road thanks to new traffic warning signs developed by a Norfolk technology company.
Westcotec recently manufactured and installed two warning signs after concerns were raised about the poor visibility of horses and jockeys riding to and from the paddocks on Upper Lambourn Road.
The speed limit was reduced to 30mph and after working in conjunction with West Berkshire Council, Lambourn Parish Council and the Jockey Club Estates, developed a system which warns drivers of horses crossing.
Westcotec’s technical staff worked closely with council officers to design the signs and trigger device. The signs can be used between 6am and 12.30pm when most racehorses travel from the paddocks; they can be activated by riders at either side of the road by flicking a toggle-type switch. Once activated the lights flash for 60 seconds and can be activated multiple times where groups of racehorses are crossing the road.
Although this is not a formal crossing, the bespoke design is a result of in-depth consultation involving West Berkshire Council, Lambourn Parish Council, The Jockey Club Estates Ltd, Westcotec the council’s term maintenance contractor, Volker Highways.
Chris Spinks, from the sales and marketing team at Westcotec, said: “We are always delighted to be given an opportunity to create new products in response to a specific problem. Our clients had specific needs, none of which was met by any existing product on the market, so by using our experience in traffic safety systems design and manufacture, we were able to provide a solution which I’m pleased to say our client is delighted with.”
