M1 switch off could cause highway accidents
Andy Kimitri, Executive Chairman of Fhoss Technology®, demonstrates how the products work.
MOTORISTS and people working on the M1 could find themselves plunged into darkness as work to remove lighting on stretches of the motorway is completed.
The Highways Agency started turning the lights out last year (August, 2011) and the inventor of the latest Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) product to be launched says this could cause more accidents.
Andy Kimitri, Executive Chairman of Fhoss Technology®, said: “Road lighting can significantly reduce the risk of drivers having accidents and the chance someone working on the highway will be hit.
“Our PPE is unlike the traditional reflective clothing that has been around for more than 40 years, it doesn’t just reflect light it emits it too. Therefore when lighting is switched off workers can still be seen and also see where they are walking and working. The clothing would be invaluable for motorists to keep in the car in case they break down.
“We are already chatting to car manufacturers and dealerships to see if they might be interested in popping the clothing in a breakdown safety pouch in their vehicles. Our product would also be useful for lorry, van and bus drivers.”
From August 17, 2011, lighting has been permanently switched-off and removed. Junctions and their approaches, and a short section of the M1 either side of Junction 11, remain lit.
Removal has been carried out in phases until August 2012 at the same time as other works to reduce the impact on road users.
Fhoss Technology® has produced a light emitting reflective tape, which has been designed for use in professional environments where wearing a high visibility garment, such as a vest, is often mandatory due to ever growing health and safety regulations.
Andy, who invented the product, added: “Traditional high visibility reflective tapes work on the principle that they actively collect light and then reflect it back towards the light source.
“Fhoss Technology® has combined the traditional reflective tape with an electroluminescent core that sits behind the semi-transparent tape and actively emits light. Therefore when light is not available the tape emits light as if it were reflecting it.”
In order for the tape to work it needs to be powered by a specially developed, mini rechargeable powercell, which is designed to allow 12 hours of constant usage and can be located discreetly in a small pocket on the garment.
The Fhoss Technology® product has been carefully manufactured and is approved and certified to the internationally recognised EN471 standard by independent test agencies.
Fhoss Technology® is committed to adding additional safety products into a variety of market sectors to help improve safety through visibility and technology.
For more information about Fhoss Technology®, please call 0845 519 2725. To see footage of the product, please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktvgV6WuyXE.
Alternatively, please become a fan of the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FhossTechnology or follow the company on Twitter by visiting www.twitter.com/FhossTechnology.
