Traffic counting data is the basis for road design and construction, determination of service levels and for applying traffic safety measures. Though traffic counting has been carried out for long time in Estonia, it is possible to speak about up-to-date counting system from the beginning of the 90-ties of the last century when first automatic counters were built on roads.
Around 550 000 EUR was invested in renovation of existing and building of new stationary traffic counting sites in Estonia during 2008-2009. Current situation regarding traffic counting sites on state roads:
in 88 stationary traffic counting sites traffic counting is done 24/7 (inductive loops are used in pavement)
in 24 periodic traffic counting sites a green energy (solar panel and/or wind generator) or just battery-based solution is used for power supply, traffic counting is usually done for 2x 4 weeks every year (inductive loops are used in pavement)
around 1 100 - 1 500 pneumatic tube counts are carried out every year, counting period is usually 1 week
Changes in economy reflect directly in traffic counting results. In 2011 total traffic density on state roads rose 0,5% (on main roads by 2,5% and on basic roads by 1,3%) compared to 2010. On secondary roads traffic density decreased by 3,5%. The overall highest density (AADT 29 034) was fixed on the section 13,0-13,7km of Tallinn-Pärnu-Ikla main road (E67) near Tallinn border.
In 2011 around 100 000 EUR was invested in new internet-based communication solution for all 88 stationary traffic counting sites so now we are able to get traffic information from those sites after every 15 minutes. In summer 2012 this traffic information which includes amount, speed and classification data for all vehicles counted will be made available to public on Estonian Road Administration's web page.
