Abstract: 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.
Publication Year: 1980
Publication Date: 1980-05-01
Language: en
Type: article
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