Interview with Stefan Oess, traffic planner
“There must be no room for misunderstanding”
Traffic on Swiss roads is increasing. Good traffic planning is essential to avoid traffic jams and get to your destination safely. We spoke to Stefan Oess, deputy director of tribus verkehrsplanung ag, about the ASTRA Bridge project.
Traffic is becoming increasingly dense. Do you personally feel safe on Swiss roads?
Stefan Oess: I generally feel safe. Switzerland's road and signalling infrastructure is in very good condition.
tribus verkehrsplanung AG advises authorities on improving road safety. What does this look like, and what are the key elements?
It always starts with the need for greater safety, regular misconduct on the part of road users or, in the worst case, even a previous accident. Some customers have already clearly formulated the deficits, others roughly express their ideal situation. In both cases, we advise our customers. We analyze the traffic situation and identify the safety deficits. We then show them various possible solutions and draw up concrete proposals, which are then dealt with as part of the political process of the relevant authority.
Let's take the ASTRA Bridge project as an example. You were responsible for planning the lost time display. How do you approach a project like this?
The first time the ASTRA Bridge was used, there was an increase in alternative traffic in the surrounding communities. This led to dissatisfaction. In order to avoid this behavior, the planning committee recommended to the Bundesamt für Strassen ASTRA as a first step to increase information for road users. Drivers were to be informed of the travel times on the highway or the alternative route (main road) by means of LED advance warning signs. A mobile LED display from FRIKE was used for this purpose. This information already had the required effect, so that a further, drastic step - exit management - could be dispensed with.
How did the display work in real time?
We measured the time lost using solar traffic sensors and sent this data to a central station via the cell phone network. This center then recorded the desired image using the FRIKE Citytrailer's integrated control system. This process was fully automated. FEDRO traffic management would have had the option of intervening manually. But this was never necessary.
"The motto is clear: short and sweet.""
Stefan Oess, tribus verkehrsplanungs ag
The FRIKE citytrailer keeps road users informed. As an expert, what do you think of the amount of text required?
The motto is clear: short and sweet. Road users may not be able to read whole sentences. There must also be no room for misunderstandings. In other words, it is best not to use words, but to work with icons to avoid comprehension problems as far as possible. I created an initial graphic for the ASTRA Bridge project and discussed it with my team. It turned out that it was interpreted differently depending on the viewer. As a result, I had to go back to square one and together we optimized the graphic content so that it was generally understandable.
What were the biggest challenges?
The lost time display for the ASTRA Bridge was a complex project. I was able to draw on experience from previous construction projects, such as the maintenance project on the A8 in the Bernese Oberland. I also worked with FRIKE on this project, also with two Citytrailers as information displays. This is how the very good cooperation finally came about. In general, it was a short-term project. We had just two months from the initial inquiry to the commissioning of the traffic sensors.
Hand on heart: how many times have you inadvertently ignored a sign?
Call it luck or occupational disease, but I can hardly miss traffic signals. In particular, changed signaling on a familiar route really lights me up.
Stefan Oess is deputy director of tribus verkehrsplanung AG, an engineering firm specializing in road traffic technology and traffic and mobility planning. He manages the “Realization” department and is a recognized specialist in the field of mobile transport technology.
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