ACHIEVEMENT OF SAFETY OBJECTIVES IN A ROAD FUNDING PROGRAM

The current road accident situation in Australia is examined in relation to other comparable countries. Considering both causal factors in accidents and their severity, it is argued that road and traffic factors contribute to about 20 per cent of road accident costs. Relationships between various design standards and safety are discussed and the likely contribution to safety from high standard facilities is compared with low cost site improvements using a case study approach. It is shown that reapportioning resources to low cost site improvement projects from other road programs can have a significant effect on safety, while other objectives are affected minimally. While noting that substantial safety benefits can be achieved, improving roads by applying high design standards is considered to be a less cost- effective means of contributing to road safety, although such standards may well satisfy other warranted objectives. (TRRL)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Workshop on the Economics of Road Design Standards, Canberra 18-20 May, 1980.
• Corporate Authors:

  Bureau of Transport Economics, Australia

  Allara Street
  Canberra City, A.C.T. 2601,   Australia 
• Authors:
  • Murray, D P
  • Carter, A J
• Publication Date: 1980-5

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 24 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Benefits; Case studies; Conferences; Costs; Countermeasures; Crash causes; Crash severity; Crashes; Financing; Highway design; Improvements; Investments; Layout; Prevention; Safety; Standards; Traffic crashes; Traffic safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Accident costs
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ITRD Terms: 1643: Accident; 8006: Australia; 8525: Conference; 226: Cost benefit analysis; 244: Financing; 2855: Highway design; 9108: Improvement; 227: Investment; 2885: Layout; 1665: Safety; 187: Specification (standard)
• Subject Areas: Design; Finance; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I10: Economics and Administration; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00329579
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: May 21 1981 12:00AM