New high-tech equipment called the Road Defender is being introduced in West Palm Beach to protect highway workers and Road Rangers from potential accidents on the road. The idea for this equipment was sparked by the death of a road construction worker in December 2023 who was struck by a hit and run driver while doing road resurfacing.
The Road Defender includes a watch that emits a siren to give workers a few seconds warning if a driver is approaching them. The system uses long-range sensors, a camera, radar, and artificial intelligence to monitor incoming traffic and alert workers to any potential danger. The workers then run to a safe spot called a muster cone for protection.
SmartCone Technologies, the company behind the Road Defender, hopes this equipment will prevent future accidents and save lives on the road. The CEO, Jason Lee, believes this system could have also saved the three Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office motorcycle deputies who were struck and killed on Southern Blvd. in November 2024.
West Palm Beach is the first location in the U.S. where the Road Defender is being used to protect road workers. Ranger Construction, where the victim was employed, is considering purchasing more of these devices after testing them out. The goal of this technology is to give workers more confidence and awareness while on the job, leading to safer working conditions for all.
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