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Interview with Mercedes Aviñó Bolinches, president of the POSTIGO OBRAS Y SERVICIOS. (La Razon 05-2006) Mercedes Aviñó Bolinches comments on what actions are taken from the association she chairs in favour of this sector and what is its current evolution in our country. AFASEMETRA, what is it and what is its purpose? AFASEMETRA is a business association that brings together the thirteen leading signposting manufacturing companies in Spain; API, DIEZ Y CÍA, EUCOMSA, GIVASA, GRUPISA, the POSTIGO GROUP, IBERSEÑAL, INDUSTRIAS SALUDES, NYD SEÑALIZACIONES, REYNOBER, SEÑALIZACIONES VILLAR, TEVASEÑAL , PROSEÑAL. They account for 70% of the Spanish signposting market. It was created in 1984 in order to carry out actions aimed at strengthening the road equipment sector, a fundamental pillar of Road Safety. Since 1990 we have worked intensely with the aim of achieving total quality of the products offered by our members... How does AFASEMETRA improve the road equipment sector? We participate actively in various forums where the rules that regulate the characteristics that must be met by signposting products are created; what checks should be conducted to verify compliance with these requirements are decided, and we also promote the creation of certificates to vouch for the quality of products, and support the introduction of innovations to improve the functionality of signposting elements. This is to ensure that signposting on our roads has the necessary requirements, as well as those required in Europe. We are currently working to analyze the status of the installed signposting, as well as the drivers’ perception of it. Remember that most of the signposting elements, specifically the code traffic signs are mandatory, there is no doubt about the rights of drivers to see and understand them; this depends on their design, the materials used, the implementation criteria and, of course, their maintenance and replacement when they lose their characteristics over time. What difficulties does this sector face in terms of development in our country? Over the past 20 years a very important and modern road network has been built in Spain. The main investments in signposting and beacons have been made as part of this new construction work. If initially the main objective was to build the new network, at present, with the existence of complete signposting regulations, and more than 15 years later, it is now necessary to replace these elements. The difficulties we face as a sector are due to the fact that equipment for the road is the final part of its construction, and while this is going on unforeseen circumstances and changes arise, that require time and money to be solved. It is difficult to move opening dates due to the great social repercussions implied by this type of work, and as far as budget is concerned, there are also limits that can not be overcome. Moreover, a lot of time passes from the date when the construction projects are carried out to this stage in the process, maybe 3 years or more, during this period regulations may have been changed, new reflective materials may have come on the market, or there may be new recommendations motivated by changes in traffic. All this should be incorporated, especially if we consider that the impact of road signs in the final budget of a newly constructed road is less than 5%, therefore the impact of these changes in the total budget is minimal but its collaboration in improving road safety very important. In construction works we act as subcontractors, the criteria for selection of the signposting manufacturers should not just be based on economics and meeting deadlines, but also on those that guarantee the quality of the products. What should be done to overcome these difficulties? We believe signposting contracts should be given to specialist companies, who know the regulations and guarantee their products through quality brands. This issue is very important because a product that is not "tested" may seem at first to meet the requirements, but neither their characteristics nor their durability are assured. All AFASEMETRA companies guarantee their products during the minimum lifetime required by the regulations. Another important issue for road safety and for the signposting sector is the need to establish a program of investments that allows for the provision of up to date signposting, which, in addition, is labelled as a control measure to avoid it exceeding their guaranteed useful life, which is already the case for road markings. As the UNE 735,337 regulation states, road signs installed in the open air, experience natural degradation over time due to action from a number of meteorological factors they are exposed to, such as solar radiation, temperature changes (cold, heat), humidity, precipitation (rain, snow, hail, ice, etc.), and even, occasionally, from the action of industrial atmospheres (N02, S02), and may suffer loss of visibility or changes to any one of their features. This variation of the properties of these elements may affect their functionality and performance. Therefore, after a certain period of time, their replacement or at least revision is recommended. Identification of the manufacturer's name, date of manufacture, and the recommended replacement date: Month-year is obligatory on the back of the sign. Also associated AFASEMETRA companies include the logo of the product brand which ensures compliance with regulations. How important is signposting within road safety? Signposting has three objectives: To increase the safety, effectiveness and ease of circulation. To this end, whenever feasible it warns of potential dangers, gives order to the circulation, it reminds or sets out some requirements of the Highway Code and provides users with the information they need. The signposting criteria are set within a framework that establishes amongst other things the obligation of drivers at all times to monitor their vehicles and maintain the required field of vision, in order to guarantee their own security, as well as other occupants and other road users. It also establishes the adaptation of the speed to as many circumstances that are present in each moment so that the vehicle may come to a stop within the driver's field of vision and faced with any obstacle that may arise. The signposting must be seen as an aid to circulation that facilitates the efficient use of the road network, but that can never be regarded as a guarantee of security or information, nor can it replace expert and responsible driving, all this, without prejudice to the legal obligation for drivers to respect the limitations imposed. The roads serve the purpose of communicating the territory. Essential criteria of their design should be directed at their safe, effective and comfortable use; which are precisely the three objectives of signposting. To what extent does our country enjoy good signposting? As I said earlier the newly built roads are well equipped, a different situation is that where enough time has passed for the materials used to make the sign to lose their initial characteristics. This is really important. When we see a sign, perhaps only then we realize whether we can read it or not. Apart from its good design, in terms of font and text layout, the base of the sign or signal should be made of retroreflectant material, i.e. a material that returns the light of their headlamps to the driver, it's as though it captures all the light it receives and returns it in more concentrated form, like a tube, to the driver. Although the material initially carries out this function it loses it over time and needs replacement. How do you see the future of the sector in Spain? Administrations are aware of the need for innovation and replacement; this coincides with increased social awareness of road safety. Associations of accident victims are working hard on it. We are confident that over the coming years the necessary investments will be made to carry out scheduled campaigns for the replacement of signposting, while taking advantage of this to include new elements that are incorporated in the Regulations and the Highway Code. |
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