Smitten Schmitten Wins Vitronic Gong

Schmitten, a municipality in Switzerland, has scooped Vitronic's VINTEC 2010 award for its innovative approach to traffic safety and cutting motorcycle noise pollution. Vitronic MD Dr. Ing Norbert Stein presented the trophy to Schmitten's Mayor Marcus Kinkel in a special ceremony earlier this month.

The VINTEC award recognises innovative machine vision systems, which usually require close cooperation between Vitronic and its customers. Previous recipients include the USA-based Numina Group (2009) and Daimler AG in Germany (2008).

Schmitten uses Vitronic's Poliscan-speed system to prevent people driving too fast, keeping roads safe for other users. This also reduces noise pollution from speeding motorcycles. Installed at two locations, Poliscan-speed monitors traffic travelling in both directions and captures photographic images of offending vehicles.

The innovation at Schmitten lies in additional cameras that allow each system to photograph speeding motorcycles from the front and the rear - namely at the same time in both driving directions. "The motorcyclist's photograph and the photograph of the license plate are the necessary evidence in order to prosecute speeders," says Dr.-Ing. Norbert Stein.

Poliscan-speed uses lasers to measure the speed of passing vehicles and operates from one side of the road. This eliminates the need for invasive systems such as ground loops, which often require elaborate roadwork and consequently interfere with traffic flow. Schmitten is the first site in Germany to utilise such technology.

"You have persistently pursued and ultimately reached your goal. This technical solution sets new worldwide standards," said Norbert Stein to a delighted Mayor Marcus Kinkel.