LINES of red and white traffic cones could become a thing of the past

if a pilot scheme unveiled yesterday by Tayside region proves

successful.

It has developed a new mobile lane closure system to protect roads

department staff and eliminate the need for miles of traffic cones.

Tayside is the first Scottish roads authority to introduce a crash

cushion truck, capable of safely absorbing the impact of a rear shunt by

a car, to protect roads staff inspecting high-speed dual carriageways.

The technique, developed in the United States, is based on a convoy of

three vehicles moving at walking pace behind the inspectors on foot.

A driver will first pass an advance vehicle on the verge displaying

four flashing yellow lights around a large floodlit roadworks sign.

Then, at least 400 metres on, there will be a 7.5 tonne truck with a

''crash cushion'' extending out behind its tail. The cushion, when

stopped, can absorb the impact of a car running into it at 45mph.

The vehicle has a floodlit rear signboard, again with four flashing

yellow lights, and has a large arrow sign indicating on which side an

approaching driver should overtake. This is the blocking vehicle.

Some 25 metres farther on is the survey vehicle with flashing yellow

lights and a floodlit arrow sign. Three metres ahead on the carriageway,

and protected by the survey vehicles, are two members of the inspection

team wearing yellow fluorescent jackets.

Councillor Jim Glover, the council's roads and transport convener,

said: ''The new system is much safer. That is the main consideration,

but it will also be cheaper and save time.

''It takes about two-and-a-half hours to set up a typical lane closure

with hundreds of cones, worth thousands of pounds, over four

kilometres.''

Mr Terry Donechy, director of roads and transport at the council,

said: ''We're always keen to try out new ideas, especially if they

improve roads.''