Road-side detection and alert system and method

An alert system for deployment by a roadside technician, the alert system comprising:

• a warning light;
• a speaker;
• a sensor positioned to project towards oncoming vehicles;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive a plurality of readings from the sensor;
• recognize a first traffic path and path from the plurality of readings;
• determine a distance and a velocity of an approaching vehicle responsive to the approaching vehicle traveling along the second traffic path and not the first traffic path;
• and
• initiate an alert with the warning light and the speaker responsive to the distance being less than a predetermined distance and the velocity being greater than a predetermined velocity.

A mobile alert system for deployment along a roadside, the mobile alert system comprising:

• a sensor arranged to project a signal towards approaching vehicles in a shoulder or traffic lane when the mobile alert system is respectively positioned near the edge of the shoulder or the traffic lane such that the mobile alert system detects corresponding velocities and corresponding distances of the approaching vehicles;
• a plurality of alert beacons including a speaker and a light system;
• and
• a processor operable to receive a plurality of readings from the sensor recognize a permissible traffic path and provide warnings through the speaker and the light system when an approaching vehicle deviates from the permissible traffic path, the approaching vehicle is at a distance less than a predetermined distance from the one or more sensors and the approaching vehicle is traveling at a velocity above a predetermined velocity.