FAIL: Roads Designed To Kill, Part 1

There are three key elements to the ‘road-safety equation’: safer drivers, safer cars and safer roads. It is a closed circle in which each element plays a role.

Getting the three parts right is the key to reducing road deaths, injury and trauma. This is self-evident.

'Safer drivers' is to do with driver behaviour. It is an acceptance of responsibility, of driving to the conditions, of being aware and considerate of other road users, of not driving while impaired with drugs or alcohol, of not driving while distracted; of these and other defensive behaviours.   

And, on the matter of 'safer cars' - on the implementation of dynamic and passive safety systems in modern vehicles - car manufacturers have risen to the challenge, invest massive amounts of money and resources into these systems, and lead governments on the issue.  

But 'safer roads' - in minimising risk, in designing roads which are as safe as is reasonably and practicably possible; the responsibility of government and regulators - well, this would seem to be another matter. 

For all the billions targeted to tunnels and freeways in inner cities (where, just maybe, better public transport and more creative solutions to traffic management, might produce better transport efficiency outcomes), and for the money targeted to extending the separated carriageways and freeways snaking between population centres, there are too many roads that are simply dangerous. 

Tuesday: FAIL Part 2. Wire-rope Barriers Everywhere: Who Cares About Motorcyclists?