BETTER ROADS LEAD TO TRAFFIC SAFETY

Local, state, and government highway agencies contribute to road safety directly by traffic controls and spot improvements, and indirectly by highway program development. Safety competes among other highway development considerations (e.g. economics, capacity of a facility in relation to transportation need, environmental impact). Safety has low priority in new road construction for three reasons: public apathy, low level of traffic safety awareness among highway personnel, and ignorance of accident rates on roads of a certain design. Citizens and highway users have an obligation to report roadway hazards to city and state officials. Citizens should consider the following factors in an effort to improve road safety concern: capability of the local traffic recording system, percentage of funds allocated for road safety, number of safety deficiencies reported to the proper authorities, the agencies responsible for reporting road conditions, availability of educational programs for local road authorities, existence of community road standards, adequacy of traffic control systems in the area, and the citizen's personal commitment to traffic safety. If the public takes a strong stand, road improvements can be realized and lives saved.

• Corporate Authors:

  California Association of Highway Patrolmen

  1225 8th Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95814
• Authors:
  • Nell, J J
• Publication Date: 1980-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 4 p.
• Serial:
  • California highway patrolman
  • Volume: 44
  • Issue Number: 3

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Highway safety; Highways; Improvements; Public participation; Public policy; Traffic safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Public interest
• Subject Areas: Highways; Policy; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00386633
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-029 185
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 28 1984 12:00AM