Traffic Lights
Traffic lights serve as safety and control mechanisms for regulating traffic flow at various locations, such as road intersections and pedestrian crossings. Although the concept of traffic lights was pioneered by English railway engineer John Peake Knight as a means of making train travel safer, it wasn’t until the early 1920s the three-position traffic signal was patented by American inventor and entrepreneur Garrett Morgan. Fast forward to the modern day, and traffic lights are now utilised worldwide as a crucial aspect of transportation infrastructure.
Speed Bumps
Speed bumps, sometimes called road humps or undulations, are primarily installed in low-speed areas and residential streets to control the speed of vehicles, protecting pedestrians from injury. Drivers are more likely to slow down on roads that feature speed bumps, allowing them more time to react to potential hazards and avoid collisions. These preventative features were invented by American physicist Arthur Holly Compton in 1953 in an attempt to prevent vehicles from speeding past his university.
Roundabouts
A roundabout is a form of road junction whereby traffic flows in one direction around a central island. Aside from improving traffic flow, the purpose of a roundabout is to make intersections safer and more efficient for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. While certain roundabouts can be tricky for larger vehicles such as HGVs and LGVs, they are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide. The UK town of Milton Keynes currently holds the Guinness World Record for the highest number of roundabouts per square kilometre.
Speed Limits
Speed limits are an integral part of road safety and exist for numerous reasons. First and foremost, speed limits are implemented and enforced by law to reduce the risk of accidents. When drivers travel at a speed determined safe by the traffic authorities, they have more control over their vehicles and more time to react to hazards. Furthermore, speed limits can help to reduce the severity of road traffic accidents. For example, according to The Highway Safety Manual, as little as a 1 MPH reduction in operating speeds can result in a 17% decrease in fatal incidents.
Swept Path Analysis
A swept path analysis is a systematic method of determining the path of a vehicle during turning manoeuvres. This can improve road safety by assessing the potential for conflict between vehicles and surrounding infrastructure. In other words, if a road is not sufficiently wide enough to accommodate the turning radius of various large vehicles, a swept path analysis can identify this issue before the completion of a road’s construction. This helps to improve traffic flow and reduce the likelihood of accidents due to poor visibility and spatial limitations.
Rumble Strips
Road rumble strips are markings designed to alert drivers when they are at risk of veering out of their lane - this may occur when a driver isn’t paying sufficient attention or, more alarmingly, when a driver falls asleep at the wheel. As a vehicle's tires make contact with the rumble strip, it generates both vibration and noise, serving as a literal wake-up call for drowsy drivers. Research suggests that implementing rumble strips can lead to a notable reduction of up to 25% in crashes. Here is some more helpful information about rumble strips.
Traffic Barriers
Traffic barriers, also known as roadway safety barriers, improve road safety by mitigating the severity of accidents and preventing vehicles from colliding with pedestrians and buildings. Typically made from robust and highly durable materials such as steel or reinforced concrete, these safety barriers are designed to withstand collisions and reduce g-force, thereby preventing the vehicle from coming to a hard, sudden stop - this reduces the severity of injury to the driver and passengers, and minimises damage to the vehicle.
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Traffic Lights
Traffic lights serve as safety and control mechanisms for regulating traffic flow at various locations, such as road intersections and pedestrian crossings. Although the concept of traffic lights was pioneered by English railway engineer John Peake Knight as a means of making train travel safer, it wasn’t until the early 1920s the three-position traffic signal was patented by American inventor and entrepreneur Garrett Morgan. Fast forward to the modern day, and traffic lights are now utilised worldwide as a crucial aspect of transportation infrastructure.
Speed Bumps
Speed bumps, sometimes called road humps or undulations, are primarily installed in low-speed areas and residential streets to control the speed of vehicles, protecting pedestrians from injury. Drivers are more...
Show full description
