ENGINEERING FOR ROAD SAFETY PAPER PRESENTED AT THE INSTITUTION'S SESSION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS CONGRESS

ROAD LIGHTING IS SHOWN TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN REDUCING ACCIDENTS AT NIGHT. THIS HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN TO APPLY TO URBAN STREETS BUT RECENT EXPERIENCE IN LIGHTING RURAL ROADS AND MOTORWAYS SHOWS THAT SIMILAR SAVINGS ARE POSSIBLE. THE HIGH COST OF LIGHTING THESE ROADS TO A HIGH STANDARD MAKES IT ESSENTIAL TO CONSIDER THE ACCIDENT SAVINGS IN ECONOMIC TERMS. SAFETY FENCES ARE NOW TO BE INSTALLED IN THE CENTRAL RESERVE OF MOTORWAYS. THE PAPER REVIEWS EXISTING KNOWLEDGE AND STANDARDS, AND SHOWS THAT, IN ECONOMIC TERMS, THE SAVINGS IN THE MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS INVOLVING VEHICLES TRAVELLING ON THE OPPOSITE CARRIAGEWAY OUTWEIGH THE INCREASED NUMBERS OF LESS SERIOUS ACCIDENTS INVOLVING VEHICLES HITTING THE FENCE ON A HEAVILY-TRAFFICKED MOTORWAY. PEDESTRIANS ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT A QUARTER OF THOSE KILLED AND SERIOUSLY INJURED AND THE PAPER REVIEWS RECENT DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING ZEBRAS, PELICANS, LIGHT SIGNALS AND UNDERPASSES. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT ELECTRONIC AIDS WILL BE INCREASINGLY USED IN THE FUTURE TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS AND SOME RESULTS CONCERNING MOTORWAY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS NOW BEING INSTALLED ARE GIVEN. /TRRL/

• Authors:
  • Duff, J T
• Publication Date: 1971-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 7-19
• Serial:
  • Institution of Highway Engineers, Journal of
  • Publisher: Industrial Newspaper Limited

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Communication systems; Crash rates; Economic analysis; Fences; Lighting; Night; Pedestrian vehicle crashes; Rural highways
• Old TRIS Terms: Safety fence (Excludes guard rail)
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00222507
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 20 1974 12:00AM