September 13, 2017
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affected by the hurricane. In just one week, the dispensary staff collected enough supplies to completely fill a 26-foot truck. The dispensary promoted the drive through social media, and patients immediately began to help. Pagni said within minutes of Zen staff posting about the donation drive on Instagram, three patients called in, wanting
to find out how they could help. Donated supplies include cases of bottled water, nonperishable food, diapers, baby formula, personal hygiene products, clothing, games, and cleaning supplies, like detergent and bleach. Some patients also donated funds towards the relief effort. All supplies will be delivered to a distribution point designated by Haul.org, which will send the donations where they’re needed most.
In addition to the truckload of supplies, Zen Dispensary is donating $5,000 to a relief organization, either Haul.org or the Red Cross, Pagni noted. For Zen Dispensary, this donation drive is a way to share the ‘community of caring’ spirit. “The cannabis community cares” is their tagline, Pagni said. Thanks to this caring community, Texas communities in desperate need are getting help and support.
Thermal cameras at Loop 101 ramps successfully detect wrong-way vehicles PHOENIX – Thermal cameras now being tested for detecting wrong-way vehicles on freeway off-ramps in the Phoenix area successfully alerted authorities to two recent overnight incidents along Loop 101 in the northwest Valley. Early on Sept. 10, a thermal camera being tested at the Loop 101 interchange at 75th Avenue detected a wrong-way vehicle entering the eastbound freeway. The detection triggered an alert to the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Traffic Operations Center, which activated warnings on overhead message boards, and to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. State Troopers found the vehicle stopped along the left shoulder of northbound 101 near Grand Avenue, and no crashes occurred. Early on Sept. 11, a thermal camera detected a vehicle apparently traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Bell Road that then made a wrongway turn to the northbound Loop 101 off-ramp. ADOT and DPS were again alerted to the detection. Video from the thermal camera shows the driver turning around at the top of the ramp and apparently returning to Bell Road. State Troopers who responded didn’t locate the vehicle or driver. ADOT recently programmed existing thermal cameras used for traffic-signal sequencing at 11 freeway interchanges to test detection of vehicles entering off-ramps in the wrong direction.
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Pictured: This image from ADOT was taken early Sunday morning. A thermal camera detected a wrong way driver and sent an alert to officials, and the driver was found quickly.
Testing of these thermal cameras is taking place while ADOT moves forward on the installation of a comprehensive pilot wrong-way vehicle detection and warning system along a 15-mile stretch of Interstate 17 in Phoenix. The system, scheduled to be fully operational by early next year, also will use thermal cameras to detect wrong-way vehicles in an effort to reduce the risk of serious crashes. This testing is one way ADOT is moving toward expanding wrong-way countermeasures as quickly as possible beyond the I-17 prototype system currently being installed. In addition to thermal cameras, the I-17 prototype system will use warning signs for wrong-way drivers and advisories for right-way drivers.
The system will automatically focus highway cameras on the wrong-way vehicle and send automated alerts to the Highway Patrol, helping troopers intercept vehicles faster. On the I-17 ramps, wrongway vehicles will trigger alerts, including illuminated signs with flashing lights, aimed at getting drivers to stop. The system will immediately warn other drivers through overhead message boards as well as law enforcement. Cameras in the area will automatically turn to face the wrong-way vehicle so traffic operators can better track it. On the freeway, thermal cameras placed at one-mile intervals will signal when a wrong-way vehicle passes so State Troopers can plan their response and get out in front of the wrong-way driver, providing a faster response.
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