Dangerous Roadway Designs Leading to Vehicle Accidents

Road design is crucial in maintaining safety on the roadway. In fact, some of the most fatal vehicle accidents are caused not by driver negligence or auto defects, but by dangerous roadway designs. This is because such designs do not only endanger the life of a single driver, but all the motorists that pass by that certain road. Some of the dangerous roadway designs today that may cause vehicle accidents include:

• Insufficient road banking or curve – Whenever roads or highways turn, there is a slight curve or banking of the road to accommodate to vehicles when making turns. However, if banking designs are not perfect, vehicles may get off the road and turnover, which may cause injuries.
• Ineffective guard rails and road barriers – Guard rails are especially important for bridges and flyovers. Road and highway administrators should ensure that these rails are able to withstand the force coming from a speeding vehicle.
• Good entrance and exit ramp design – Entrance and exit ramps are helpful in accommodating in the merging of vehicles in freeways. Ineffective ramps may cause dangerous accidents especially for speeding automobiles.
• Lack of road warnings – The purpose of road warnings is to inform motorists of certain dangers on the road. Some warnings include signs for slippery roads, sharp turns, accident prone areas, and railroad tracks.
• Indistinguishable road markings – Aside from signs, markings on the road should also inform drivers regarding intersections, lane merging and emergency bay areas. If the paint used in such markings is easily washed off, drivers may not recognize them.
• Inappropriate location of traffic control devices – Traffic control devices should be placed in locations suitable for their function. For instance, traffic lights are best positioned in intersections.
• Road design not suitable for traffic density – During road construction, administrators should consider how many vehicles pass by the area. This will give them an idea of a suitable road width.
• Roads with poor visibility – Roads on hills and mountains often have this kind of problem. Drivers should be able to see incoming traffic even though they are driving along these kinds of roads.

Every driver should not only be aware of his driving attitudes and vehicle, but also the characteristics of the roads he is passing by. In some cases, it takes more than one person to monitor all these three factors. Drivers should never get tired of checking such things because it works for their own benefit.


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