9 Ways To Improve Traffic Safety That The Government Will Ignore Because They Are Too Busy Ticketing You
September 4th, 2008 Posted in Red-Light Cameras, Speed Cameras, Toll Roads, Traffic Tickets, Yellow Light Duration
The Federal Highway Administration has strongly recommended nine tools for decreasing road fatalities. You can find them at the end of this article. Most of these tools are fairly basic and simple to implement. So why aren’t they already universally used?
They’re not universally used because they don’t make money for anyone.
The government (local, regional, and national) has become more and more greedy. Instead of federal grant money going to the programs below, it goes to holiday ticketing binges, congestion charging, toll roads, red-light cameras and speed cameras — none of which have shown any positive impact on key traffic safety metrics.
These kind of enforcement and fee-based programs do make plenty of money though. Unfortunately, they do it by picking the pockets of motorists.
They get away with this blatant money grab by using powerful public relations tactics — and the implicit trust that many citizens still have in government organizations — to convince the average driver that it’s for their own good.
Shameful.
FHWA’s Nine Tools for Decreasing Road Fatalities
1) Roadway Safety Audits
State DOTs should formalize the use of these audits, which are comprehensive evaluations of existing or planned roads or intersections to identify potential safety improvements.
2) Rumble Strips and Rumble Stripes
Used in centerline and shoulders, these cost-effective devices have shown demonstrable improvement in warning drivers of lane departure, reducing by 14 percent head-on collisions and opposite-direction sideswipe crashes. Shoulder rumble strips and stripes have shown a 38 percent reduction in run-off-road crashes on freeways, and between 13-18 percent on rural roads.
3) Median Barriers
Used to separate opposing traffic on divided highways, these barriers have a long track record of reducing cross-median collisions. States are encouraged to consider using cable median barriers where appropriate to further heighten roadway safety.
4) Safety Edge
This paving technique, giving a 30 to 35 degree slope to the road’s edge, reduces the risk to drivers if their tire inadvertently falls over an otherwise near-vertical road-edge leading to loss of vehicle control and rollover crashes. Safety Edge makes such notoriously severe crashes far less likely.
5) Roundabouts
Roundabouts have demonstrated a 60 to 87 percent reduction in crashes.
6) Turning Lanes at Stop-Controlled Intersections
At intersections with significant turning volume, turning lanes for right and left turns on major road approaches can dramatically reduce crashes — in some cases, by as much as 55 percent.
7) Yellow Change Intervals
Red-light running crashes at intersections, which too frequently result in fatalities, can be reduced by properly setting yellow-light signals. Studies show a one-second increase in the yellow signal interval can reduce red-light violations by as much as 50 percent.
8) Medians and Pedestrian Refuge Areas in Urban and Suburban Areas
Raised medians or pedestrian refuge areas at pedestrian crossings at marked crosswalks have shown a 46 percent reduction in pedestrian crashes. FHWA recommends that medians be between 4 and 8 feet wide to improve pedestrian safety.
9) Walkways
Ensuring a sidewalk or pathway exists near a roadway can reduce pedestrian crashes by as much 88 percent. FHWA recommends a pathway of at least 4 feet wide of stabilized or paved surface in areas routinely used by pedestrians.
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About the 60 to 87 percent reduction in accidents when roundabouts are used, it is important to ask ourselves how this number was reached. Where were the roundabouts used (cul de sacs, residential streets, highways)? Also, what was the control for their expirement. Its very nice to have these numbers and all, but before we jump to conclusions we should ask ourselves if these numbers are verifiable, or just made up by someone whom advocates the use of roundabouts
Excellent article on the 4.3 second yelow light time as recomended by the state.
I received a red light ticket from a CHP officer who claimed i ran the red light because his light was green when I enetered the intersection.
In checking and observiung the lights in this intersetion I noticed that the yellow light time varied from 3.5 seconds to 4.3 seconds depending upon the time of day.
In the mnorning hours between 6;00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. the signals changed at the rate of 3.0 seconds from yellow to Red. Thgen betweem 8:00 a.m. and Noon they were changing at thr rate of 4.0 secomds from yellow to Red and that the light on the opposing street changed from red to green before the yellow light changed to red.
The city of Santa Ana, California claims their lights are set at 4.3 seconds as required by State law. What do you recomend?
FM, I think there is a slight misunderstanding here. Judging from your comment about people in the circle letting other drivers in, I assume you are referring to the style of traffic circles found in New York and other large east coast cities. These circles operate differently than the modern roundabout. In order to prevent congestion like you are talking about, traffic approaching a modern roundabout is faced with a yield sign. By giving the ROW to traffic in the circle we can successfully prevent it from jamming shut. Typically such circles are one or two lanes, and are smaller in diameter than the old style circles. Traffic engineers do often build them slightly too small though, and inexperienced engineers will angle the approaches wrong. Typical speed through one of these will average at about 20-30 mph. They are particularly useful in residential areas, collector roads, and junctions with more than 4 approaches (size of circle must be increased, shape may be altered as well)
Additionally, talking to everyone this time, one topic I did not see the article mention was other dangerous driving behaviours. They try to give us the impression that if only we could eliminate speeding our roads would be safe, but there are so many other factors that play a far bigger role in contributing to crashes. For example, driving slow in the left land, weaving, turning into the incorrect lane, tailgating, not using directionals, etc.
Highway:
“FM is talking about something completely different from what the article is.”
HIGHWAY, You obviously did not read this article. My point directed to…
5) Roundabouts:
Roundabouts have demonstrated a 60 to 87 percent reduction in crashes.
[...] Ways To Improve Traffic Safety That The Government Will Ignore Because They Are Too 9 Ways To Improve Traffic Safety That The Government Will Ignore Because They Are Too Busy Ticketing… September 4th, 2008 Posted in Traffic Tickets The Federal Highway Administration has strongly [...]
FM is talking about something completely different from what the article is. The article is not advocating large traffic circles or rotaries. Modern roundabouts are smaller, deal with smaller volumes better, and reduce conflicts.
Matta, that’s one of the beautiful things about roundabouts. Being slightly uncomfortable with the traffic flow keeps you paying attention to other cars, and reduces accidents. Additionally, if you miss your turn, you can just go around again with very little added travel time. The worst things that happen in them is when people don’t do this and stop or try to cut hard right to get out of them.
Just go around again, folks.
ROUNDABOUTS ?!?!?!
I’ve been in and also parked to watch many roundabouts across America, my observations are…
When it’s crowded, those who are already in one will either not let another driver in, or simply, their is no SAFE room to get in. So you have to sit and wait.
AND WHEN you’re in one & it’s crowded,… DO NOT get caught in the inside lane, you’ll NEVER get out!
This Roundabout system is just a little less dangerous that a “figure 8″ race. Then again, maybe the “figure 8″ might do more good than the Roundabouts?…
…naw, BAN THE DAMMMN things.
HI
What ever is written here completely makes sense i drive 4hrs a day on highway and I agree with this report.
I am not very comfortable with roundabouts though, if you donot know the directions it is very confusing.
These are measures that should be implemented world wide. The money coming from this of course will come from excessively mean transport traffic fines, and a large proportion going into the pockets of money hungry speed camera organizations, who deliberately mislead governments on the reason fro speed being a “major” factor in accidents. We know different. We should refuse to pay all fines till there is some sanity in the way people are ticketed, and the way safe motorists are ticketed fro minor infractions, as the real ratbag problem drivers seems to easily avoid fines by various means.
10. Improve the signage. The US has really bad traffic signs or lack of them – particularly regarding directions and right-of-way.