Findlay Irvine shows GripTester skid resistance device

Findlay Irvine, a specialist in skid resistance, says it is becoming a more prominent issue with engineers and road operators around the world as more focus is placed on providing safer roads. Accidents involving wet skidding are a major concern and finding ways to reduce these types of incidents is a challenge.

April 6, 2016 Read time: 2 mins

Intertraffic 2016 Daily News Day 2 Findlay Irvine GripTester skid

Rob Sims of Findlay Irvine

7687 Findlay Irvine, a specialist in skid resistance, says it is becoming a more prominent issue with engineers and road operators around the world as more focus is placed on providing safer roads. Accidents involving wet skidding are a major concern and finding ways to reduce these types of incidents is a challenge.

As visitors to the Findlay Irvine stand here at Intertraffic Amsterdam will learn, measuring skid resistance, both annually and after incidents, is proving to be best practise for road operators as they seek to reduce accidents and protect against litigation.

Findlay Irvine says it can provide the solution with its skid resistance measuring devices – the unique GripTester and micro GripTester MK2.

GripTester MK2 is a trailer-based continuous friction measuring device that has been used on roads around the world for more than 20 years and can give repeatable, cost effective results on the skid resistance of a network. It can be used with any type of tow vehicle and is easy to deploy for fast, reliable results.

The micro GripTester is the new portable, push friction tester that uses the same measuring technique as the GripTester MK2 but can be used to measure skid resistance in places that its big brother cannot go. Since its launch, it is now being used around the world to measure skid resistance on roads, footways, markings, iron works, accident sites and pedestrian zones amongst other uses. The controlled water delivery and touchscreen display makes it versatile while still being deployable in a matter of minutes.

Enforcement needs automation and communication

TISPOL's Peter van de Beek questions whether the thought processes which drive enforcement technology development are always the right ones. Peter van de Beek sees an ever-greater role for technology in traffic enforcement but is concerned that the emphasis of technological development and discussion is not always in the right places. 'Old-fashioned' face-to-face policing remains as valid as it ever did, he feels, but adds that there should be greater communication with those engaged at the sharp end of saf