Assembly and method for detecting errant vehicles and warning work zone

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for detecting and signaling when a vehicle enters or poses a serious risk of entering a roadway work zone. The apparatus comprises an intrusion detector array for detecting a vehicle breaching the work zone perimeter, and a high intensity strobe light array for providing an optical warning signal when the perimeter breaching vehicle is detected. The detector array includes one or more transmitters for emitting pulsed infrared signals along the work zone perimeter, and one or more receivers for detecting the presence or absence of the pulsed infrared signals, where the receivers include filters for removing stray signals emanating from sources other than the transmitters. The strobe light array includes a primary strobe activated by the detector array when a perimeter breaching vehicle is detected, and several relay strobes which are activated by the optical warning signal emitted by the primary strobe or another relay strobe. The primary and relay strobes emit a high intensity, psychologically proactive optical warning signal that is capable of immediate perception by work zone personnel despite the presence of noise and distractions. The detector array may also include a pneumatic hose assembly, and the assembly may include an electromagnetic emitter for falsely conveying the presence of a police radar trap. The electromagnetic emitter may be embodied in an excessive speed module for detecting a vehicle approaching the work zone at an excessive speed, and for activating the strobe light array upon detecting the speeding vehicle.