Roadside 'TAG' Boxes

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Wed 28 Jul 2004 10:10
Roadside 'TAG' Boxes - Mondeo Man
Hi,
On a road near me I have noticed a new roadside box, probably erected at some point in the last 6 months. It's about 12 feet off the ground, and roughly the size of a shoe box. One side, which faces oncoming traffic, is dark-glazed but if you look carefully you can just make out LEDs which spell 'TAG'. There doesn't seem to be any kind of display on any of the other sides. I have never seen the LEDs illuminated, despite passing the box at least once a day.

The road is a 40 limit, and the box is probably 250m away from a traffic light controlled crossroads. I haven't seen any other boxes like this on the other roads leading into the crossroads, or anywhere else.

Does anyone know what this kind of box does? I wonder if it's a mechanism for emergency services to force the lights to change as they approach from the direction it faces (have heard about these things in the USA)- rush hour queues can easily back up past the point where the box is installed).
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 28 Jul 2004 12:48
Roadside 'TAG' Boxes - John24
Google brings up Tagmaster, a Swedish company making automatic vehicle identification equipment. Could be for emergency vehicle use or part of the Government's drive to identify road vehicles for charging purposes.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 28 Jul 2004 12:54
Roadside 'TAG' Boxes - Adam {P}
Purely at a guess I'd agree with John. Sounds like something to do with these new licence plates we're getting soon for road charging.
Adam
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 28 Jul 2004 13:50
Roadside 'TAG' Boxes - Stuartli
If they are what I'm thinking of - and coloured dark blue - then it's a means of checking traffic density by a company TrafficMaster(?) or similar.

It can then warn its subscribers of potential or actual holdups so that they can take an alternative route if this is possible.

There are quite a lot of these pole-mounted boxes on major roads in my area.

See: www.trafficmaster.co.uk/page.cfm?key=trafficproduc...s
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 28 Jul 2004 13:55
Roadside 'TAG' Boxes - Stuartli
However, if they are intended for congestion charges, then be prepared to pay both to use the roads (on top of all the other motoring costs) and at your place of work, then read this:

www.cfit.gov.uk/congestioncharging/factsheets/guid.../

Big Brother all over again.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 28 Jul 2004 14:24
Roadside 'TAG' Boxes - paulb {P}
Godd to see that the the links to other sites are current, too ;-)
Reply | Report as offensive | Link

10 warranty myths exposed

Here’s how to sort the fact from the fiction when it comes to car warranties.

Cheap Car Warranties

From which small car to buy at which price point to the best UK-built cars, our Top 10s have the lot. Click now for your shortlist.

Unsure of what to buy? Our Top 10s are here to help you....