The purpose behind those mysterious black cables on the road

If you ever see black cables stretching across the road, you had better know what it means. I had no clue… Check comments.

While on the road, chances are you have spotted the black cables on the road.

However, although they are common and perfectly safe to run over, most people don’t have a clue about their purpose.

These rubber cables, that are stretched across the road, serve the purpose of gathering data about the traffic. So how do they work? When a vehicle crosses over them, it causes pressure which is recorded and transmitted to a counting device.

This information assists transportation agencies in keeping track of traffic flow, vehicle speeds, and volume, which is essential for urban planning, road maintenance, and safety upgrades, ultimately affecting the decisions on traffic management, road expansions, and the positioning of traffic signals or speed limits.

Rubber cables are often positioned in low-visibility areas to avoid drawing attention and to minimize any interference with traffic. This approach guarantees that the collected data is as precise as possible, representing typical traffic conditions without the effects of altered driving behavior.

To learn more go to the video below.