IMPACTS IN ROAD SAFETY FOLLOWING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PORTUGUESE NATIONAL ROADS PLAN

Among the main factors usually involved in road accidents stand those related to the road environment, which reflect either the presence of features affecting their likelihood (i.e. by increasing or decreasing the risk), or the provision (or absence) of conditions which may contribute to minimize the adverse consequences of those same accidents ( the "forgiving environment" concept). Therefore, safety should be a criterion taken into account at the various implementation stages leading to a final road layout, starting with the early planning phase. It is at the network level that road planning plays its main role as an instrument of transport policies and decisions, aiming at supra-national, national, regional or local goals. The evaluation of the safety effects of general road planning activities at the network level is difficult in nature, since it requires not only extensive and reliable data, but also a clear perception of the different factors and inter-relations involved, and an adequate time perspective. Within the scope of the Portuguese National Road Plan, launched in 1985, a significant effort has taken place aiming at the rehabilitation and new road construction, especially of new motorways and express roads. At the same time there has been a huge increase in car ownership and use on the Portuguese roads, expecially on those under the referred plan. At present, when a revision of the plan is under way as the next century approaches, it seems of interest to have some insight on how safety indicators related to that same network have evolved during the last decade, with special emphasis on years 1985, 90 and 95. This is possible due to the availability of traffic data on a nationwide basis. It is the object of this paper to report on that subject.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/1102626X
• Corporate Authors:

  PTRC Education and Research Services Limited

  Glenthorne House, Hammersmith Grove
  London W6OL9,   England 
• Authors:
  • DE MACEDO, A L
  • Cardoso, J L
  • SANTO, J Z
• Conference:
  • Traffic Safety on Two Continents
  • Location: Malmo, Sweden
  • Date: 1999-9-20 to 1999-9-22
• Publication Date: 1998

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 45-58
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute
  • Publisher: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile ownership; Networks; Planning; Railcar ownership; Rehabilitation; Road construction; Roads; Traffic crashes; Traffic safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Road networks
• Geographic Terms: Portugal
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00766057
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: VTI konferens 9A part 1
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1999 12:00AM