Latest News

 Chevron Alignment Markers (CAMs) are one of the most mis-used signs on the public road network. They should only be used on substandard curves. A minimum of three CAMs are required in a series and two CAMs must be visible to a driver/rider at any one time. To...

Tailgating (following too closely behind another vehicle) creates risks beyond just rear-ends. While rear-end crashes are the most common outcome of tailgating, the risks also include:▪️ Run-off-road crashes: A sudden stop or swerve by the lead vehicle can force the...

Whoever invented the slip-based pole deserves an award. These poles shear at the base when struck, yet withstand torque loads - a simple but brilliant design that has saved thousands of lives and prevented tens of thousands of serious injuries worldwide. We need more...

Working on or near the road is one of the most hazardous environments for any profession. Traffic controllers and road workers face significant risks daily. Their exposure to high-speed traffic, distracted drivers, and unpredictable road conditions are just some of...

Reducing vehicle speeds at large signalised intersections is one of the most effective ways to enhance pedestrian safety. Raised safety platforms (RSPs) offer a proven solution, significantly improving safety for pedestrians and reducing the severity of crashes....

Motorcyclists face a significantly higher risk on the road network compared to other road users. Several factors contribute to this heightened vulnerability: Smaller size and visibility: Motorcycles are harder for drivers to see, especially in blind spots or when...

Melbourne is home to the world’s largest tram network, but sharing the road with cars brings safety challenges. A Monash University study (Naznin et al., 2016) delves into the factors contributing to tram-involved serious injury crashes. A few of the key findings: 🦏...

We’ve undertaken Safe System Assessments on a variety of motorways across Australia. As part of getting our head around the risks, we looked in depth at past crashes, incidents and especially the video footage from control centres. We were surprised by the amount of...

Installing new traffic signals in a high-speed environment leads to high-severity crashes. It’s time to face the hard truth: repeating the same approach and expecting different results is not just ineffective - it’s causing death and serious injury. We need to...

Curious about how speed affects AusRAP Safety Star Ratings? We've created two PDF sheets that compare the ratings for the same rural cross section under 100km/h and 80km/h speed limits. What is AusRAP? AusRAP, based on the iRAP methodology, assesses and rates road...

The Australian Level Crossing Assessment Model (ALCAM) is one of our tools in our mission to improve railway level crossing RLX) safety. By assessing the risk of collisions at level crossings, ALCAM helps identify critical safety issues and guides effective...

This week Safe System Solution had the pleasure of organising a workshop with the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEA) on Active Transport Roundabouts. Typically common roundabouts do not perform well for cyclist safety due to their smaller...

Bridge piers represent a catastrophic risk if struck by a large vehicle. An impact can compromise the entire structure, endangering many lives and causing massive financial consequences. That’s why barrier systems around bridge piers are designed to contain more and...

Roundabouts are a wonderful road safety feature to reduce the severity of crashes at intersections. Vehicles have to slow down to navigate the roundabout, so when mistakes happen (which they will) the crashes are lower severity. In a 2003 study, Beer K, Hall K, and...

In the 2024 update to the Australian Standard 1742: Manual of uniform traffic control devices, Part 10: Pedestrian control and protection there was clarification on the correct colours to mark crossing points. ⬛⬜ For a Pedestrian Crossing (AKA Zebra Crossing), it’s...

Pedestrian Operated Signals (POS) are good for encouraging walking by giving pedestrians confidence to cross safely. However, that confidence can sometimes lead to reduced alertness among pedestrians. Meanwhile, drivers at midblock POS have a greater chance of running...

Safe System Solutions completed an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of this compact urban roundabout in Mildura. It showed a 19.20km/h reduction of entry speed (average), with new 85th percentile speed of entering vehicles of 19.26km/h (and 99th percentile...

E-scooters have become a preferred mode of micromobility in many cities around the world, but this can come at the cost of pedestrian safety. A recent study by Paudel et al. (2023) offers insights into the dynamics of e-scooter-pedestrian collisions. It highlights...

Motorcycle safety is evolving with the introduction of advanced technologies, and forward collision warning (FCW) systems are a notable example. While these systems have been common in cars for years, they’ve only recently made their way onto motorcycles, primarily on...

Raised medians are a valuable tool in road design. By separating opposing traffic streams, they reduce the likelihood of head-on crashes. However, it’s important to understand their limitations. While raised medians help guide traffic and improve safety, they lack...