Spain trials high-tech traffic cones to help prevent accidents

These appear to be traffic cones like any others, but they are GPS geo-located and have flashing lights. The DGT says they prevent accidents by giving warnings in real time and ahead of works which are being carried out. Once a company activates them and starts to carry out the road works the DGT’s traffic management centre is alerted and sends messages to the information panels above the roads and to connected vehicles.

Details of these smart cones were given on Monday, the day the DGT’s new highway surveillance campaign began. Until the end of this month, officials will be monitoring areas where road works are being carried out, to see how much notice drivers take of the signs and to reduce risks, such as speeding in those areas, inappropriate lane changes and distractions