A series of signage and road marking improvements, including Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) from Clearview Intelligence, have successfully resolved a long-standing collision issue at Stonefield Bridge on the A85 near Oban, a key route linking the Scottish mainland with the Inner and Outer Hebrides.
Located seven miles from the port town of Oban, Stonefield Bridge presents a challenging road environment, with a carriageway width reduced to 4.3m and a bridge clearance of just 4.1m (14 feet). Any closure of this route due to a bridge strike results in a 75-mile diversion, causing major disruption to road users and local communities.
During the 2010s, the site experienced five personal injury collisions, including a tragic fatality in 2019, alongside five separate bridge strikes. Analysis revealed frequent late and heavy braking manoeuvres on approach to the bridge, as well as roadside damage from vehicles swerving to avoid oncoming traffic — a problem compounded by the lack of clear road markings indicating traffic priority.
To address these issues, Transport Scotland commissioned BEAR Scotland to develop a programme of road safety improvements. This work identified the need for enhanced driver awareness and behaviour modification through smarter engineering solutions. As part of this initiative, Clearview Intelligence supplied and installed three Vehicle Activated Signs alongside new road markings and vehicle restraint barriers to improve driver information and prioritisation when negotiating the bridge.
Unlike traditional static signs, the Vehicle Activated Signs offer real-time responsiveness, dynamically alerting drivers to oncoming vehicles and other key hazards. Two signs were installed on the westbound approach and one on the eastbound, each programmed to display varying LED warnings depending on the class and position of approaching vehicles. These include messages about road narrowing, bridge height restrictions for larger vehicles, and warnings of oncoming traffic in the centre of the road. One sign also alerts drivers to potential queues ahead, compensating for limited forward visibility due to the road’s alignment.
In the three years since installation, there have been no recorded bridge strikes or injury collisions at the site – clear evidence that these simple, data-driven interventions have had a profound impact on driver behaviour and road safety.
“This project at Stonefield Bridge is a great example of how smart, data-led interventions can deliver tangible safety improvements for road users,” said Chris Keenan, Director of Business – Scotland at Clearview Intelligence. “By combining intelligent signage with real-time vehicle detection, we’ve been able to influence driver behaviour and remove a long-standing collision problem. It shows that effective technology doesn’t always have to be complex or costly to make a real difference.”
The success of the Stonefield Bridge project demonstrates how Clearview Intelligence’s intelligent signage solutions can support safer, more efficient journeys on the UK’s rural and strategic road networks.
