Pneumatic road tubes are commonly used to monitor traffic on roads and highways. These rubber tubes are placed across the roadway and are designed to detect vehicles as they drive over them.
When a vehicle’s tires pass over a tube, they create a burst of air pressure inside it. This compressed-air pulse travels through the tube to a connected counting device, which records each passing vehicle.
By analyzing the timing and sequence of these air pulses, traffic monitoring systems can estimate vehicle speed, count traffic volume, and identify the direction of travel. Some setups can also help distinguish between different types of vehicles.
This technology provides valuable information for city planners and transportation authorities. From studying busy intersections to improving road safety and planning infrastructure, rubber traffic counting cables offer a practical way to understand how traffic moves throughout an area.