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Rigid barrier systems come in various forms, typically made of steel, concrete, or a combination. While these systems can result in a harsher impact for vehicle occupants compared to more flexible barriers, there are specific applications where their advantages...

Traffic cone theft is a big issue. While we don’t have figures for Australia and New Zealand, the US reports that 1 million traffic cones go missing from worksites each year. Stealing traffic management cones or bollards might seem harmless or even a bit of fun to...

This video from Australia leaves us a bit lost for words (it’s more reminiscent of scenarios we’ve seen in other countries). But it raises an important question: how does risk perception influence behaviour in situations like this Several factors seem to reduce the...

People make mistakes, and while we all continue to strive to reduce the number of mistakes on our roads, we need to sharpen our focus on managing their consequences - specifically, managing the energy in a crash scenario. This video is a brilliant example of a barrier...

One reason crashes between passenger vehicles at roundabouts tend to be less severe than those at traditional square intersections is the angle of conflict. At roundabouts, the angles of vehicle collisions are typically much shallower compared to the 90-degree impacts...

When designing roadside barriers, there are many factors to consider within the context of the site. One important trade-off is between the stiffness of the barrier system and its offset from the edgeline.  A more flexible barrier system typically reduces occupant...

Riders face unique challenges on the road. Their smaller size compared to other vehicles makes it more likely for drivers to miss seeing them - creating situations where anticipation and quick reactions can make all the difference.  While we work to make drivers more...

Lateral Protection Devices (LPDs) fitted to trucks are an effective way to lessen the severity of a crash with a pedestrian or cyclist. According to Knight et. al (2005) the effectiveness of LPDs in preventing fatalities in crashes with the side of large trucks range...

In this video, it’s hard to tell exactly what’s happened. Let’s give the driver the benefit of the doubt and hypothesise that they identified the queuing vehicles too late and made a choice to avoid a rear-end collision with the queue.  This scenario highlights an...

Did you know that there’s no legal requirement to install a Give Way sign at a T-intersection? According to the Road Rules, vehicles on the terminating road are already required to give way to traffic on the through road (includes garbage bins it seems 😂). This means...

Pedestrians face frequent, varied, and high-severity risks in urban areas, particularly at intersections. These risks aren't just due to crossing the road; intersections are also high-risk points where vehicles may leave the road unexpectedly - whether avoiding other...

In three recent road safety audits, we’ve observed items attached to barrier systems that are not part of the system. While some, like the plastic guidepost contraption, are unlikely to affect the barrier's functionality, it’s not considered good practice....

Merges from the right are a higher risk road design than merges from the left (in drive-on-the-left countries) for a number of reasons:  Drivers’ line of sight  Blind Spots: Drivers in drive-on-the-left countries sit on the right side of the vehicle, making it more...

Click above for a few of the basic facts about fatigue and driving.  -------------  Follow us on LinkedIn for more snippets and news: @Safe System Solutions Pty Ltd

The AGRD Part 4A discusses an ‘average walking speed of 1.2 m/s’ and further acknowledges that ‘there are pedestrians who may walk at different rates and designers need to consider the types of pedestrians and their likely walking speeds’.  The TMR supplement expands...

  Some traditional Local Area Traffic Management studies focus on how cars move through an area – but here at Safe System Solutions we’re about more than that. We want all road users to be safe and to be able to get to their destination. Our Local Area Traffic...

Street/road art is becoming more and more popular. But what are the risks, and how can they be assessed?   In 2021, Maribyrnong City Council painted colourful polka dots of varying sizes on roads in Yarraville Village to catch the eye of drivers and encourage them to...

A common misconception is that car registration pays for road construction. In reality, roads are funded through general taxation, meaning everyone contributes - cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers. State and Territory registration fees cover insurance and...

There was a time when roadside alcohol and drug testing seemed impossible, yet today, they're essential tools in the road safety toolkit. So, where are we now with roadside fatigue testing?  Fatigue is a major contributor to road trauma, but there’s still more work to...

Dr Amy Williamson, Safe System Solutions Technical Lead – Safe People, has received a prestigious Austroads Achievement Award for leadership in road safety.  The award recognises Amy’s exceptional leadership as the inaugural chair of the Australian and New Zealand...