Those Black Hoses Across Kentucky Roads Are Doing More Than Counting Cars

On several occasions over the course of several years, I'll notice black cables stretched across Kentucky roadways. I'm sure you have, too. I always thought they had something to do with monitoring speed. I thought there was some technology inside those things that could determine our speed based on how fast we crossed them. That's part of it, but not all of it, and, besides, those flashing digital signs that remind us we're driving too fast are far better at that task.

Black Hoses on the Road

Of course, it never occurred to me to consider how those cables could monitor my speed, so I looked it up. And, what do you know? They're not even cables; they're hoses. More specifically, they are known as "traffic counters." Your brain has probably done the rest, but I'll spell it out for you.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet employs these traffic counters to do exactly what that moniker would indicate. They're counting cars. When a vehicle hits the hose, compressed air moves quickly through it and hits a recorder on the side of the road. The recorder marks the exact time.

Traffic Counters

With this process, the traffic counters determine speed, traffic volume, passing direction, and vehicle type. The amount of pressure on the hose indicates the vehicle's size. This data informs the KYTC about traffic congestion and whether or not road widening is needed. The counters also measure how busy a certain road is.

And, just like that, you now know how they know when it's time for this road upgrade/update or that one.

All that data, and thanks to a puff of air.