ROAD SHOULDERS-A LUXURY OR NECESSITY

The practice of providing shoulders in Australia is widespread. The need is based on the advantage in accident reduction. This paper indicates that shoulders may not be so advantageous as believed but this conclusion is based on a limited amount of accident data. Following this analysis it is concluded that a gravel shoulder can become an inbuilt hazard on rural roads with a heavy commercial vehicle content. In addition, because of the relatively high 85 per centile speed on this road, estimated at 100 km/h, it was considered that the appropriate road improvement would be to widen the road to a 7.4 M seal. The number of the covering abstract for the workshop is IRRD no. 239865. (TRRL)

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

  Bureau of Transport Economics, Australia

  Allara Street
  Canberra City, A.C.T. 2601,   Australia 
• Authors:
  • Lock, J B
• Publication Date: 1980-5

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 9 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash investigation; Finance; Gravel; Hazards; Highway design; Highways; Needs assessment; Prevention; Road shoulders; Rural highways; Safety; Traffic safety; Traffic speed; Transportation; Width
• ITRD Terms: 1643: Accident; 8525: Conference; 9009: Decrease; 2916: Hard shoulder; 1665: Safety; 6479: Width
• Subject Areas: Design; Finance; Safety and Human Factors; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00330377
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 9 1981 12:00AM