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TC-600 Radar Speed Sign Installation Manual MN0017 v21.02
Best Practices for Radar Speed Sign Installation
These guidelines and recommendations provide the best practices for radar speed sign installation to
assure successful, accurate and effective traffic calming.
•
The radar speed sign should be installed no more than 5 feet from
the road curb. At more than 6 feet from the road, the sign will take
the eyes of the driver an unsafe distance from the roadway, and
will result in displayed speeds that are LOWER than the actual
speed
•
Do not install the radar speed sign in a curve or after a curve.
The sign should be installed in the straightaway of the road.
A radar speed signal cannot “curve” with the road, and will not
display speeds with enough time for drivers to see the alert and
adjust their speed.
•
The sign should be positioned perpendicular to the road with the
radar pointing directly at the curb, not at the center of the road, for
maximum vehicle detection. Signs rotated toward the center of the
road will not perform as well.
•
Do not install a solar powered radar speed sign under a tree.
Summer leaves on the tree could impact solar recharging. Make
sure the solar panel is installed facing as close to South as
possible. (solar models only)
•
The radar speed sign should be installed on the same side of the street as oncoming traffic. If installed on the
wrong side of the road, the angle of the sign could result in poor detection of the on-coming traffic, and also result
in the sign displaying speeds of vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.
•
The radar speed sign should be installed 7-10 feet off the ground. Do not install the radar speed sign lower than
4 feet off the ground. Doing so will result in much of the radar speed signal being absorbed by the road, reducing
your detection range.
•
Prior to the radar speed sign installation, look for any obstructions (telephone poles, large tree limbs, other
signage, etc.) that might interfere with proper operation of the sign.
•
Installing the sign on the same side of the street as parallel parking of vehicles could affect the radar performance
of the radar speed sign. The radar speed sign should be installed high enough off the ground to detect oncoming
traffic over the parked vehicles.
•
If the radar speed sign is installed more than 12 feet above the roadway the sign should not be tilted more than 3°-
4° downward to detect vehicles. Doing so will result in a greatly reduced length of time vehicles will be detected,
and will display speeds that are LOWER than actual speed. (the cosign effect).
