MVIS’ Safelane Technology

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In 2015, Highways England recorded more than 40 cases of drivers deliberately ignoring road closure signs on the A13 alone.

These figures were recorded by road workers working on a section of the A13 near Thurrock, in Essex, which was being widened to reduce congestion and improve safety. The project, which is estimated to be completed in autumn 2016, will see the A13 on the approach to junction 30 widened to four lanes in each direction, with new dedicated link roads between the M25 and A13. The work is an ongoing process, and has seen a number of work zone incursions from the start.

During 2015, a range of vehicles were seen unlawfully entering the worksite, and some drivers ignored carriageway closures. In June 2015, a road worker’s work vehicle was struck and damaged by an object thrown by the motorist of a moving vehicle.

Lizzie Pauling, project manager for Highways England says: “Safety is Highways England’s top priority. We are concerned by a number of drivers choosing to ignore road closures, putting their safety and the safety of others at risk. The improvements to the A13 and M25 will improve safety and reduce congestion for the tens of thousands of drivers who use this section each day.”

To assist in events like this, MVIS provides an innovative solution to help road workers stay safe. The Safelane Integrated Solution sees Intellicone-enabled Smart VMS positioned at road closure points, surrounded by intelligent cone barriers and contactless sensors to detect breaches. If a breach does occur, the sensors send a message to the VMS which warns the driver they are in a prohibited area, and instructs them to turn around. Simultaneously, the gatepeople at checkpoint locations are alerted by an audible alarm, giving them time to take appropriate action and retreat to a safe place. They are also supplied with a manual panic alarm to alert the workforce if a driver is to continue beyond the checkpoint. This system can incorporate CCTV if necessary and is proven to reduce the resources required to safely carry out road closures and minimise confrontations with disgruntled drivers.

For more information on Safelane Technology, please get in touch on 01629 580 570 or email us on sales@m-vis.co.uk.

 

 

 

Are your wicket signs compliant with the new Department for Transport regulations?

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You may have heard that the Department for Transport is changing the approved size for wicket sign screens where signs haven’t been located in the central reserve, also known as Fixed Taper Points (FTP), Remote Controlled Temporary Traffic Management signs (RCTTM) and Remotely Operated Temporary Traffic Management signs (ROTTM). If you have signs installed that don’t meet these new regulations they will need to be changed or Police operated rolling road blocks put in place to deploy traffic management, which can become problematic on schemes where this is a regular requirement.

Our UK manufactured five colour VMS-C meets all of the requirements set out in drawing number GT50/198/0015-1 that the Secretary of State approved on the 10th March 2016. This allows our VMS-C to be used as a replacement for FTP signs, also known as RCTTM and ROTTM signs on Smart Motorway schemes until the fixed permanent signs are fully operational. This will enable the motorways to return to All Lanes Running (ALR) without the requirement for Police operated rolling roadblocks to be used to deploy Traffic Management.

Our VMS can be controlled remotely from any internet connected PC with a web browser via MVIS’ Web Studio or Wi-Fi enabled Apple device using Bartco Curbsite Lite. All of the required approved legends are already programmed in to the system making the setting of the signs a simple process. If sufficient notice is given we can preset the messages for you, enabling you to activate and de-activate all five signs in a Fixed Taper Sign group with just six clicks of your mouse.

Individual user accounts can be set up for any number of operators, each with their own log in so a full audit trail of which messages were activated, when and who by can be recorded. We can also set access rights to: only allow them to activate the approved legends; be able to make their own legends if the signs are to be used for other purposes; or allow them viewing access only for monitoring purposes.

And with 22 depots throughout the UK and high levels of VMS in stock you can trust us to deliver.

If you’d like to discuss your requirements further, please contact us on 01629 580570.

 

 

Invest in your Staff

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Here at MVIS, we pride ourselves on the high level of customer service that we offer. No matter what your query may be – from which is the best product for your event, right through to how to operate the CCTV, the MVIS team have years of experience and always happy to share their knowledge. We even offer a 24/7 support service to ensure that no matter when or where you are working, we’re always on stand-by to lend a helping hand.

To achieve and maintain this consistently high standard, we regularly enroll staff members on different training courses to ensure that they are fully up to date and able to serve our customers to the best of their ability.

All of our operatives have been fully trained in site safety, towing, operating power tools, manual handling, driving forklifts and they all hold relevant CSCS Cards. All members of the MVIS team have undertaken comprehensive first aid training, and have been trained to use Intellicone. There has also been a number of staff going on to undergo further training in many areas to help make their working life easier. This consists of anything from Hiab training to safely operate lorries and cranes; a Slinger/Signaller course; a course in using Sage and one in using Inspire. Not even the management are safe! General Manager Anne has undergone an intensive Health & Safety course, and is currently working on obtaining a Business & Management degree, which is sponsored by the company.

In addition to this, Technical Support Tom Hooton will shortly be undergoing Warehouse & Storage training, Operations & Service Coordinator Dom will be taking his NVQ Level 3 in Customer Service, and Anne will be taking her CIPD Award in Human Resource Practice.

We are firm believers that if you look after your staff, they’ll look after your customers. It really is that simple! By supporting and believing in our staff and making sure they are 100% confident on how to deliver a great level of service, we can be sure that our customers will have 100% confidence in us.

In addition to this, by investing heavily into our staff, they see just how committed we are to them and their development, and therefore become more committed to us as a company, and this is evident through the great service offered by the MVIS team.

As Richard Branson says, “Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to.”

Get Your Message Across with MVIS

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MVIS has a long history of supplying solar powered mobile VMS across the UK and 2016 is no different.

The amber or five colour functionality of our VMS make them ideal for sporting fixtures, stadium events and festivals to help direct traffic – both those in vehicles and those on foot.

Not only do they provide a high impact way of directing a high volume of traffic, but our innovative Web Studio™ means that should it need to change in an instant, it’s also quick and easy to amend your message via any Wi-Fi enabled Apple device with a pre-made message. This is a great resource if you need to keep crowds informed of any busy routes to avoid, available car parking spaces or any other vital information to help make their experience easier and more enjoyable.

This year, MVIS will be supplying VMS to a fantastic range of sporting events yet again. Starting off with the North London Half Marathon in March, we’ll be helping them make sure that all the runners, crowds and traffic are kept informed of where they need to be at all times.

We’ll then gallop over to the Grand National at Aintree in April to supply them with a number of VMS for various uses. This will help them to keep the high volume of traffic coming into the event up-to-date with vital information such as car parking availability, or to direct the different ticket holders to their correct paddock.

We’ll also be supporting various football teams this season, as we’ll be supplying VMS for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final, as well as the FA Cup semi-final and final to help direct the crowds and keep them informed.

The VMS is a great tool to help with crowd control as they are easy for a mass audience to see and understand. Because the large screens can be used to display pictograms too, this is also a great way to convey information to an audience who may not speak English as a first language.

The solar powered VMS provide a great visual impact to your event and can even be used to increase brand awareness. Whether your need is for advertising and sponsorship deals, displaying event or festival information, promoting a brand or for event traffic management, our innovative VMS are guaranteed to attract attention.

If you would like to speak to someone regarding your event requirements, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on 01629 580 570 or by emailing us at sales@m-vis.co.uk

Mark Ashbee: London Depot Supervisor

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As our London Depot Supervisor, Mark is a trusted member of the MVIS team.

How long have you been with MVIS?:
I joined MVIS on the 1st February 2016.

Job role:
My main responsibilities are the delivery and collection of VMS around London and the south of England, making repairs to VMS and CCTV.

I also carry out daily checks on vehicles we use, keep the depot clean and tidy and have products ready to deployed at short notice.

Recent projects:
The most recent big project London depot was involved in was a major tram accident in Croydon, when local agencies needed VMS deployed that day to warn motorists about diversions and road closures. We had the VMS in stock and they were ready to be delivered that afternoon. I think to have the units already to be deployed saved us precious time.

How did you get into the industry:
I come from a varied background from running bars and restaurant to waste management. I heard about the job from a good friend who worked for the company.

Most fulfilling part of your role:
The most fulfilling part of my role is to have VMS ready to be delivered as l like to be organised. Every day is different and you never know what might come through the office.

More about me:
I have two young boys – Tom and Jerry – who keep me busy when I’m at home.

When l get the time, l enjoy martial arts training which l have done for years.

 

 

Order your summer VMS now

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MVIS provides solar powered colour mobile variable message signs (VMS) across the UK. The five colour functionality of our VMS make them ideal for sporting fixtures, stadium events and festivals and as such, our products have been heavily used over the years at venues such as Wembley, Twickenham and Old Trafford for a number of concerts and sporting events to help control the flow of people and traffic in as safe a manner as possible.

With only a few months to go until the summer, we’ve been busy organising our summer schedule of VMS units for a number of large-scale events.

If you’ve got an event coming up, don’t miss out – hire our VMS units to help you direct the flow of traffic to and from your event, manage the crowds and keep them up-to-date with the latest information.

The five colour matrix signs offer the choice and flexibility of using red, green, blue and white in addition to standard amber so no matter what your message or picture, you can be sure to make it stand out.

Our VMS can also present Chapter 8/MS4 style pictograms as well as text, which our experience suggests are quickly interpreted by foreign visitors, who are not always able to understand text. This can be extremely useful when trying to direct people who do not speak or read English as a first language.

What’s more, with the ability to update the VMS units instantly via our innovative Web Studio, you can react quickly and efficiently to changing circumstances whilst providing up-to-the-minute information. Simply log on using any Wi-Fi enabled Apple device to change your message in an instant and keep your crowds informed.

Click here or more product information, or call 01629 580570 to discuss your needs.

Trust MVIS to Deliver

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MVIS has use of over 21 depots all across the UK, and because we have such great access to our stock, it means you can #trustMVIS to deliver great quality products straight to you whenever they are needed.

We operate from Bow in the heart of London, and from the rolling hills of Matlock in the heart of the Peak District, so we are ideally suited to serve every corner of the UK, no matter where you are based. What’s more, with our 24/7 support service, you can always #trustMVIS to be on hand throughout your project should you need us.

As a leading supplier of innovative mobile and solar powered monitoring and visual information systems, MVIS provides fast, flexible, cost effective temporary solutions no matter what your requirements. Whether you are in need of solar powered CCTV, smart sensor radar solutions or variable messaging signs – you can #trustMVIS to get them out to you quickly and efficiently.

We are committed to delivering greater flexibility, innovation and choice to help resolve congestion on the UK roads and management at events.

Our distribution network spans across all major towns and cities, with the use of depots situated in all corners of the UK, from Scotland and the North, right through to the Midlands and the South.

Call us on 01629 580570 to find out more.

Safety First with Overheight Integrated Solutions

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For those who work on the road, safety is their biggest concern – especially as the average fatality rate for those maintaining the UK’s road network is one of the highest amongst employment sectors.

Highways Agency statistics showed that work-zone incursions are one of the most significant risks to road workers. Between 2009 and 2013, eight road workers died and 317 were injured whilst working on or near, motorways and major A roads in England.

In response to Highways England’s (previously The Highways Agency) ‘Aiming for Zero’ campaign, and customer concern for the safety of road workers, MVIS now offers the first temporary road safety portfolio of pioneering work zone safety solutions designed to keep road workers safe.

This includes Overheight for those working at height, Safelane for those working on lane closures, and Egress for road workers at exit and entry points.

Overheight

When construction work and scaffolding are introduced onto roadside work zones, overheight workers are at an increased risk of injury from high sided vehicle collisions.

Our Overheight solutions features an Intellicone Sentry Beam – a contactless sensor – which can detect movement in ‘no go areas’ from vehicles over a certain height which would possess danger to the workers should the vehicle continue.

This movement then activates a warning to alert both the driver and the workers. A message alerting drivers to their breach is displayed on a VMS unit, enabling them to turn around and find an alternative route.

Simultaneously, an audible Intellicone Portable Site Alarm sounds to alert the workers, giving them sufficient time to move out of the perceived danger area and into a position of safety.

The Sentry Beam has a line of sight for 50 metres and communicates wirelessly with an Intellicone Traffic Management Unit (TMU) controller which is fitted to a VMS. The user can control the TMU to determine how long the messages are displayed on the sign, and can also override the system to change messages should this be required.

This solution offers road workers and those working overheight, a much greater level of safety. If you would like to find out more, please get in touch at sales@m-vis.co.uk.

Driving Home for Christmas?

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As we’ve seen on the news this week, extreme weather conditions can cause massive disruptions to travel plans.

No matter how well planned travel plans are, they can be upturned in an instant. This not only leaves road users and commuters in need of guidance, but also requires local authorities and those working within the highways agency to quickly implement new routes and infrastructures to maintain safe and efficient traffic management.

Mobile Visual Information Systems (MVIS) is a leading supplier of innovative mobile and solar powered monitoring and visual information systems which means that we can be relied on to provide solutions to the highways industry.

We work with traffic and event management companies to help keep Britain moving by providing fast, flexible, cost effective temporary solutions, such as VMS units to help advise road users and commuters of new routes, important information and alternative directions. Plus, with the welcome addition of MVIS’ Web Studio™, you can change the messages displayed on your VMS units instantly from any Apple device. So should your new route be compromised in any way, you can swiftly amend your VMS unit to display the most up-to-date information, keeping the roads – and those using them – as safe as possible.

What’s more, MVIS’ 24/7 support service offers a comprehensive level of support no matter what it is you require. Whether you need urgent support or advice on any of our products, or if you need to hire any of our products out of hours, simply email our Team at sales@m-vis.co.uk and you are guaranteed a reply within 4 hours.

Alternatively, if your enquiry is within office hours, call us on 01629 580570 to speak to one of our experienced technicians.

 

Spotlight on the Solar Intelligent Platform

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One of the biggest challenges with traffic management is how flexible you need to be. You need to be responsive to quick changes and as such, so do the products you use.

MVIS’ Solar Intelligent Platform is an innovative product which offers a great deal of flexibility to its user. It can be easily combined with a variety of our temporary intelligent traffic systems equipment, including the ANPR camera, CCTV and radar to offer you the right solution for your project.

It’s mobile, which means it can be easily transported from one location to another requiring no civil engineering or third party communications, offering greater flexibility when managing your project.

The Solar IP does not require an external energy supply so is environmentally friendly. It comes with a 12V, 24V or 48V battery and is recharged using the new 250W solar PV panels. These are designed to optimise ultraviolet light so is environmentally friendly too.

If you would like more information on the cost-effective Solar IP, please get in touch with us on 01629 580570.

20% off Highways UK tickets with MVIS

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We’ll be off to the new Highways UK event later this month, which is taking place on 25 – 26 November at Excel, London and can offer our customers a great offer on tickets.

Highways UK is a major new event bringing together those responsible for planning, developing, managing and maintaining the UK’s road network. The event is predicated on the profound changes resulting from the recent formation of Highways England, the new government-owned strategic highways company.

Any MVIS customer who books tickets to this exciting event can enjoy 20% off the full ticket price, simply by clicking here >

Attendees can choose full day tickets, or even select specific modules that they want to attend in order to suit their requirements.

Combining a high-level conference, industry and innovation briefings and a major exhibition over two days, Highways UK is the place to discover how your organisation can profit from this exciting new era for the UK’s highways sector.

Don’t miss out – book here today and save 20%!

Don’t forget to come and say hello to the MVIS team, who will be there on both days on Stand D42. We look forward to seeing you there.

MVIS’ Sponsored Driver Brings Home Two World Titles

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MVIS are proud to announce that our sponsored racing driver John Mickel, at Mickel Motorsports, has recently returned back from a whirlwind visit to New Hampshire with two World Championships under his belt!

John is now the worthy owner of the World Legends Masters Championship and the World Series Points Title. Mickel Motorsport flew John’s UK Legends Championship car – of which MVIS is one of the sponsors – over to the USA specifically for this race, and it seems to have done the job.

Congratulations to John and all of the Mickel Motorsport team.

See him in action here >

Mobile Visual Information Systems

01629 580 570

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