Safety and signage Counting on signs Amer Hafiz, technical director at Nortech Control Systems, outlines the difference that variable message signs can make to car park management ariable message signs (VMS) that display where available spaces can be found are a useful tool for car park managers and users. Recent research has shown that many motorists find it stressful finding somewhere to park and frustrating when car parks are difficult to navigate. VMS systems that automatically count vehicles in and out of car parks and display the number of available spaces on each level are a welcome feature for motorists. There are other benefits, too: motorists dont waste fuel searching for parking spaces, vehicle emissions are lower and there is less temptation for illegal parking. VMS technology is constantly improving the digital displays are now using the latest high-intensity, fullcolour LEDs and the overall signs can carry corporate branding. Nortechs new range of VMS systems are compliant with the European VMS standard EN12966, offering bright clear messages indicating available spaces and status messages. Its multi-level VMS are available with from two-to-five level counts as standard, and have already been adopted by a variety of users, including a police headquarters in Portsmouth, a university in the Lebanon and a Sainsburys store in Truro. . V Trying something new Sainsburys supermarket in Truro has a 411-space car park, split over two levels. It was looking to update the facility by replacing its existing VMS with the latest specification, to make it as easy as possible for customers to find a parking space. Access Automation, a leading installer of automatic gates, barriers and turnstiles, installed a new Nortech VMS that can display two-tier occupancy information. Nortech also provided a stand-alone counter module. Vehicles are counted in and out of each level of the car park, and the number of available spaces is then calculated by the system and displayed on the VMS, so motorists can see where there are spaces. Customers shopping experience is improved by being able find a parking space quickly and easily, and congestion in the car park has been reduced. Mark Williams, managing director at Access Automation, says: As always, Nortech provided excellent support throughout the whole process, from quotation through to design and final installation. The system installed has fulfilled the remit we were given by Sainsburys, with the quality of product we expect from Nortech. Vehicles are counted in and out of each level of the car park, and the number of available spaces is then calculated by the system 34 britishparking.co.uk PN Oct19 pp34-35 Nortech.indd 34 23/09/2019 14:01