Road Design and Traffic Accidents
There are seemingly endless factors that can potentially contribute to traffic accidents. The ones that get the most attention in the media are those that involve modern technology and thus spark debate. But while devices such as cell phones certainly do act as a distraction to drivers on the road, there are other more fundamental things that can completely change the way traffic flows and seriously lessen or increase the number of traffic fatalities each year.
Road design is one of these endlessly important factors that can completely change the everyday safety level of a commute. Hours of labor by skilled engineers, scientists and statisticians go into road design for major thoroughfares. Road design includes:
o The basic design of the road-this includes the degree of the turns, the size of the lanes, the thickness of the asphalt, among many other things. This stage of road design requires the careful work of one or many civil engineers.
o Road fixtures-this includes the number and placement of road signs, the removal of trees that may become a danger in the event of a storm or other unforeseeable issues, the placement of fire hydrants with special designs to collapse upon impact.
o Safety barriers-barriers are present on most highways as well as roads that extend past rivers or cliffs. A barrier can be the one thing that keeps an out of control car from moving into on coming traffic, resulting in a head on collision. Safety barriers must be able to absorb impact energy while minimizing the risk to car occupants. Changes in safety include side rails that are anchored to the ground and light poles that break at the base.
o Pavement marking-reflective materials used to indicate lanes, appropriate passing areas, road shoulders and two way or one way roads.
Road Design for Highways
Highways may seem to be by far the scariest part of driving. On highways there are cars swishing by at extreme speeds, large semis taking that have limited vision, dangerous lane changes by said speeding cars, unforeseen road hazards that are difficult to deal with at high speeds among many other frightening challenges.
But in reality, highways, for the most part, actually improve safety. They allow for the free flow of traffic and decongest smaller roads. Highways also have much fewer distractions and hazards as compared to roads with intersections and stop lights.
For more information on road design, visit the website of the car accident attorneys of Habush Habush & Rottier SC.
Joseph Devine
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine
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Tags: design, engine, engineer, engineers, lights