Safe use of infrastructure

 

For Salerno Pompei Napoli S.p.A., each user represents a unique customer who must be guaranteed a safe and comfortable journey.

The motorway infrastructure you are travelling on is subject to continuous monitoring of both traffic conditions and structural conditions in order to ensure the highest safety standards.

This is our commitment and, to make it a reality, we employ the appropriate resources for the verification and quality monitoring of the infrastructure used (bridges, viaducts, tunnels, paving and safety barriers) and for continuous safety checks.

Traffic management has always been intrinsically linked to safety, because its proper planning and organisation aim to reduce risks, prevent accidents and ensure orderly and safe traffic flow for all users through the regulation and implementation of active and passive safety measures.

Traffic assistance and monitoring operations involve traffic and maintenance support staff, mechanical assistance, etc.

To improve traffic flow and achieve significant results, SPN is working on the following fronts:

• Maintenance yards

Maintenance works are essential to ensure the safety of travellers.

On the A3 Naples-Salerno motorway, during periods when routine maintenance activities are concentrated, there are roadworks aimed at restoring safety barriers (guard rails and traffic dividers), cleaning the carriageways and drainage ditches, maintaining green areas and vertical and horizontal signage, and restoring the motorway pavement.

Interventions are carried out in accordance with the following management standards, except in unforeseeable emergency situations:

• planning during periods of lower traffic;
• removal of construction sites during holiday periods and weekends;
• works in 24-hour shifts on the busiest routes;
• advance notification of construction sites with significant impact;
• in conditions of heavy traffic, where possible, work is suspended and the lane that is normally closed is reopened to ensure the safety of workers and avoid causing further inconvenience to users;
• works mainly at night on sections near the busiest areas.

 

• Incident management

SPN and the Traffic Police jointly coordinate intervention activities in the event of accidents.

• The Traffic Police provides initial assistance to people, ensuring traffic safety;
• SPN ensures the timely arrival of its personnel and emergency vehicles to restore traffic conditions (by cleaning the road surface) and activates all communication channels to inform users.
• In the event of intervention by the fire brigade, traffic management is subject to the safety conditions imposed by the fire brigade itself.

 

SPN is constantly committed to improving safety levels through initiatives aimed at reducing, on the one hand, the likelihood of accidents and, on the other, the consequences of accidents themselves on vehicles and people. Details of the measures are provided below:

• Implementation of specific measures at locations with above-average accident rates (warning signs, lighting systems, special road surfaces, etc.).
• Increase in porous asphalt (rainproof): 86.34% of the total 51.6 km as at 31 December 2021.
• Increased adhesion coefficients and regularity of pavements.
• Installation of anti-climbing safety nets on all viaducts with separate carriageways.

The Traffic Police ensures surveillance with over 6 patrols covering all 51.6 km of the network, 24 hours a day.

 

SPN informs users during their journey via variable message signs displaying information about accidents, roadworks, traffic jams and weather events.

Only in situations of normal traffic flow are traffic information messages not transmitted, but other types of messages (safety, driving advice, etc.) are displayed. Over the years, in order to provide more accurate information, the number of Variable Message Signs has been gradually increased across the entire network to the current total of 40 signs.

 

Along the route, on average every 1.5 km, SOS columns are positioned in each direction of travel, for a total of 70 devices, which allow users in difficulty to make immediate contact, including verbal contact, with the Radio Information Centre. The SOS columns allow users to generate a mechanical and/or medical emergency call by pressing the corresponding button.

Throughout the journey, users are assisted by continuous monitoring of the route via numerous cameras managed by the Radio Information Centre and continuous patrolling by the Traffic Police and Traffic Auxiliary crews, who intervene to ensure safety, assistance, information and reporting in the event of critical incidents. During exodus periods, the Company, in collaboration with the Local Government Offices and with the assistance of the Civil Protection Agency, guarantees additional assistance to users in the event of queues at toll booths and barriers or in the event of heavy traffic congestion.

User information is available 24 hours a day, not only via variable message signs, but also via webcams, with updates every 5 minutes, accessible from the institutional website of SPN S.p.A. at:“https://salernopompeinapolispa.it/webcam”.

For any requirements relating to traffic conditions and/or for any emergencies, our RADIO INFORMATION CENTRE is also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are three service areas on the network, equipped with essential food and non-food services for users travelling on the A3 motorway.

To ensure proper maintenance of the motorway infrastructure without affecting traffic flow, the most disruptive roadworks are scheduled to take place at night. Roadworks are planned to ensure that the number of existing traffic lanes is maintained, albeit with reduced width. Information on construction sites and any closures of junctions or motorway sections is communicated in advance, on a weekly basis, through our website in the section “SERVICES-Ordinances”.

Nei periodi di esodo, non vengono programmati cantieri; potranno rimanere installati unicamente cantieri inamovibili e, inoltre organizzato un presidio stabile di personale e di soccorso meccanico, al fine di garantire una corretta viabilità ed un pronto intervento in caso di necessità.

Emergency management

Emergencies are managed and coordinated by the Radio Information Centre, which remotely monitors the entire motorway network. When an alarm is triggered, i.e. a potentially dangerous situation arising from vehicle malfunction, traffic jams, accidents or adverse weather conditions, operators activate the most appropriate personnel and emergency services to deal with the critical situation (traffic wardens, traffic police, medical assistance, roadside assistance, fire brigade).

What to do in an emergency

In the event of an accident, vehicle breakdown, or driver or passenger illness, try to reach the nearest emergency lay-by if possible. In the event of illness, it is useful to call 112 and inform the staff of the situation. 112 is connected to the Radio Information Centre which, once informed, will take care of reporting the incident and securing the site. Alternatively, call the Radio Information Centre on 081 750 8125. If possible, switch on your hazard warning lights to signal the presence of your vehicle and turn your wheels towards the outside of the carriageway. If the vehicle has reached a lay-by or the emergency lane, exit the vehicle on the side opposite the flow of traffic wearing a reflective jacket, display the temporary warning sign (triangle) at least 50 m from the vehicle, and then move to safety, if possible, beyond the safety barrier.

To enable rapid and effective intervention by the emergency services, please specify:

• the type of request (mechanical assistance, medical assistance, etc.),
• the direction of travel (north or south)
• the most accurate location possible of where you are, i.e. the motorway kilometre marker or the nearest junctions, if known.

Mechanical Assistance

On motorways, mechanical assistance is provided by authorised organisations and garages. If the vehicle is in a safe location, such as a service area or lay-by, the user can call their insurance company’s toll-free number (if it covers breakdown assistance); the toll-free number will contact the organisations authorised to operate on our motorway, which are:

• ACI Global tel. 800.338131
• VAI – Europe Assistance tel. 800.4324320
• ESA – Euro Service Assistance tel. 800.448040
• AXA tel. 064.21156776
• IMA tel. 800.108510
• CAS tel. 081.8187482

If the vehicle requiring assistance is not in a safe position, the Radio Information Centre must be contacted to ensure a quicker resolution of the situation. In this case, assistance is activated by the motorway operator when the vehicle requiring assistance is in a dangerous position and obstructing traffic, and when road and/or weather conditions may increase the risk posed by the vehicle requiring assistance.

Therefore, if the vehicle requiring assistance is located:

– On lanes dedicated to traffic flow (driving lanes, overtaking lanes)

– On a slip road, climbing lane, acceleration lane or deceleration lane;

– On a zebra crossing;

– In the emergency lane before or after, or near a bend;

– In the emergency lane after a speed bump;

– In the emergency lane, but cover, cross or be close to the solid line separating the driving lane from the emergency lane;

– In the emergency lane, but close to the deceleration and exit lanes;

– In the construction site area or near the construction site warning signs;

– Anywhere where an accident occurs;

– In any location where weather conditions do not guarantee perfect visibility or road grip (fog of any kind, mist, smoke, sun glare, rain, snow);

– Any place with wet flooring due to previous precipitation;

– In queuing due to previous accidents or roadworks or congestion on the stretch.

For light vehicles (vehicles weighing less than 3.5 tonnes), all organisations are required to operate under a ‘reciprocal tariff’ system, meaning that users will not incur any additional costs if the assistance is covered by insurance.

In any case, SPN employs operators in the sector who, in the event of an accident or a vehicle stopped on the road or in an emergency lane less than 3 metres wide, are contractually required to respond within 20 minutes for light vehicles and 30 minutes for heavy vehicles. Rescue rates are published on the institutional websites of rescue organisations.