Reflective roadway warning system indicating incorrect vehicular travel direction

Abstract

A plurality of reflector devices each having a reflective element, the reflector devices embeddable in the roadway of an off ramp, or in the curbing of an off ramp, and / or in the guardrails adjacent an off ramp or other one way street, the reflector warning system providing a visible alarm or alert to a driver in day or night conditions or low visibility that the driver has mistakenly or inadvertently turned his vehicle onto and is proceeding up an off ramp or other road way to another intersecting highway, and as such will encounter oncoming opposing traffic such that the driver can stop, reverse, and correct the mistake. The reflector devices embedded in the roadway depending upon their spacing will also provide a significantly tactile feedback to the driver that he is proceeding in the wrong direction by causing a vibration to the tires which is transmittable to the steering wheel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to roadway intersections and vehicular traffic, and in particular to a permanent or portable warning system providing visual and harsh tactile feedback to a driver that the driver is mistakenly proceeding in a traffic lane dedicated to traffic traveling in the opposing direction.2. Description of the Prior ArtDrivers of vehicles encounter various traffic patterns every time they are behind the wheel. In many instances, one of these driving patterns is a one way street in an urban area, or perhaps a one way lane in a multi-story parking structure. Still further, various roadways as interstate highways are divided and have a plurality of on and off ramps for access thereto. The one thing in common with all of these one lane roadways, lanes, or the like, is that they eventually intersect with another roadway which may or may not be one way, but which allows a driver and vehicle on that intersecting roadwa...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel visual and tactile warning system for embodiment in the center of the roadway and random placement in the roadway of an off ramp or positioned adjacent the roadway in the curb or guard rail, which provides a visual and disturbingly tactile warning to a driver that the driver is proceeding in a direction where he will encounter opposing traffic.

A plurality of reflector devices each having a reflective element, the reflector devices embeddable in the roadway of an off ramp, or in the curbing of an off ramp, and / or in the guardrails adjacent an off ramp or other one way street, the reflector warning system providing a visible alarm or alert to a driver in day or night conditions or low visibility that the driver has mistakenly or inadvertently turned his vehicle onto and is proceeding up an off ramp or other road way to another intersecting highway, and as such will encounter oncoming opposing traffic such that the driver can stop, reverse, and correct the mistake. The reflector devices embedded in the roadway depending upon their spacing will also provide a significantly tactile feedback to the driver that he is proceeding in the wrong direction by causing a severe jolting to the tires which is transmittable to the steering wheel, causing the driver to reduce speed and determine that the vehicle is proceeding in the wrong direction.

Problems solved by technology

The reflector devices embedded in the roadway depending upon their spacing will also provide a significantly tactile feedback to the driver that he is proceeding in the wrong direction by causing a severe jolting to the tires which is transmittable to the steering wheel, causing the driver to reduce speed and determine that the vehicle is proceeding in the wrong direction.

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