General Attributes of Safe Road

Road Design for Safety

The operation of roads involves the interaction of three key elements that are driver, vehicle and the environment.Physical shape of road depends very much on the attributes of the driver and the vehicle and their interaction in a dynamic sense. Designing safe and efficient road requires a basic understanding of certain human factors, vehicle characteristics and their interaction with the roads and its environment.

Human factors include;

• Vision
• Information needs
• Information processing

Vehicle characteristics such as ;

• Visibility (for the driver-eye height and blind spot)
• Braking characteristics
• Manoeuvrability
• Cornering

What is General Attributes of Safe Road ?

1. Standards of horizontal and vertical alignment which are appropriate to the environment,
2. Road cross-section with appropriate lane and shoulder provisions, catering for the various traffic volume,
3. Access control consistent with the function of the road in the overall road network,
4. Clearly visible and uncomplicated intersection with appropriate traffic control providing safe movement for all road user groups
5. Well thought out traffic signing with clear advice, positive warning, unambiguous directional information,
6. Adequate and consistent delineation of the roadway,
7. High standard of skid resistance pavement with good drainage,
8. Appropriate street lighting
9. Overall traffic management which properly considers the needs of all road users.