The black tubes running along Australian roads have been a common sight for decades, but many people don’t know what they are for.
‘Traffic tubes,’ as they are called, collect information about traffic patterns and the speed at which cars are traveling, but that data is not used against individual drivers.
They are used by city councils, state governments and even some private organizations to analyze the conditions of a section of road.
“They count the cars, but they can also classify the type of vehicle that passes over them, because they can count the axles, so they will know if it is a car, a B-double or a car with a trailer,” Chris Miller, a spokesman of Transport Victoria, said Drive.
Traffic tubes also capture vehicle speed to understand the behavior of road users on a particular stretch of road.
However, it is not designed to surprise any individual. If there is speeding or if people are going well below the legal limit, the people who put up the traffic tubes want to know why.
“What they may want to do is restrict the amount of traffic coming up a street, especially in a residential area that they might consider too much for air pollution or for the children in the area,” Miller said.
‘It also helps determine congestion (in the area). So if it’s a 50km/h zone and everyone drives 12km/h (off-peak), it might suggest a problem.’
The black tubes (pictured) on Australian roads have been a common sight for decades, but many people don’t know what they are for or assume they are spying on drivers.
Traffic tubes also capture vehicle speed to understand the behavior of road users on a particular stretch of road. stock image
So while the data collected is not designed to target a particular driver, the general information can be used to justify road improvements or new traffic calming measures, such as zebra crossings.
Businesses using the tubes (with permission from the relevant local council) would normally try to identify the best location for a new building or business such as a service station.
For example, a lot of thought and planning goes into where to place the input and output of a new servo.
If you see these tubes, also known as “road pneumatic tubes”, on a road, the council or state government could be getting information about some new or improved infrastructure.
They could also be responding to complaints about road user safety or traffic congestion in the area, especially if the road is used as a “rat corridor” to, for example, avoid a busier street or a toll. .
The basic message is that the tubes are not there to spy on you, they are there to collect data and improve your life.
“There is no way they can be used to control speeding,” Mr Miller said.
