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‘Engaging and relevant’: Road Safety Audit course supports safer roads in Kenya
Traffic Engineer, Tony FrankSafe System Solutions is helping to support safer roads and streets in Kenya by empowering a local road safety leader with practical Road Safety Audit skills and knowledge. Nairobi-based traffic engineer, Tony Frank, wanted to deepen his...
Safe System Snippet 382: Deterrence theory
Deterrence theory is the process of influencing drivers to adopt safe practices through the fear of detection and consequences. The key in effective deterrence lies in creating an environment where drivers believe that violating traffic laws will likely lead to swift...
Safe System Snippet 381: Bridge barrier containment levels
This heart stopping video was doing the rounds recently due to the close call for the truck driver. But is anyone else questioning the lack of any barrier system with a decent containment level? In Australia, bridge barrier containment levels are defined by the...
Safe System Snippet 380: Dynamic visual obstruction
Dynamic visual obstruction is the term for when a moving vehicle blocks another vehicle’s sightlines. Motorcyclists are highly susceptible to dynamic visual obstruction crashes due to their small size and their propensity to be masked by other vehicles on the road...
Safe System Snippet 379: Speed cushions
While buses and larger vehicles can easily navigate over raised platforms, raised crossings, or speed humps, the ramp grades sometimes need adjusting on routes with frequent bus traffic. However, in areas with pedestrian activity, we shouldn't compromise the speed...
Safe System Snippet 378: Path-to-Path Intersection Design
Here are some key practices to keep in mind when designing intersections where two paths meet: Clear Priorities: Establish clear priorities for path users. Consider the volume of users, and if it's low, give priority to the stream most inconvenienced by stopping....
Safe System Snippet 377: See-through effect at intersections
A see-through effect is part of the ‘visual deceit’ family of crash causation. This occurs when a driver or rider misses the requirement to give-way or stop because the road geometry misleads them. It is common at crossroads. The risk of see-through effect crashes...
Safe System Snippet 376: Improving Traffic and Worksite Safety- The Importance of Anti-Gawk Screens on High-Speed Roads
Click the image above to view PDF. Anti-gawk screens (also called anti-debris screens) can assist with worksite safety for both workers and the travelling public. They minimize visibility into the worksite to prevent distractions for the road users and shield workers...
Scania driver shares insights from the truck cabin
Scania assisted Safe System Solutions to deliver our recent Road Design for Heavy Vehicles training in Sydney, with their experienced driver trainer sharing first-hand insights from the truck cabin. Scania driver trainer, Peter Koutelis, took training participants for...
Safe System Snippet 375: Balancing Safety: How Flexible Barrier Systems Reduce Injury Risk for Light Vehicle Occupants
The more flexible the barrier system, the lower the risk to light...
Safe System Snippet 374: Why Long Vehicles in Australia Can Use Multiple Lanes for Safe Turns
In Australia, trucks and other vehicles over 7.5 metres long that have a DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE sign on the back are legally allowed to take up more than one lane to turn at corners, intersections and roundabouts. They can even use a right turn only lane to...
Safe System Snippet 373: Enhancing Road Safety and Convenience: The Benefits of Turnaround Bays on the Midland Highway
Check out this turnaround bay on the Midland Highway in Tasmania. As more and more of the road network becomes divided with a central barrier system, turnaround bays provide designated spots for drivers, including those in large vehicles, to safely turn. The bays...
Safe System Snippet 372: Enhancing Motorcycle Safety: The Importance of Mountable Kerbs in Road Design
Kerbing is used to transition from a road to another surface such as a footpath, a nature strip, median or outer separator. The change in height is a hazard to motorcyclists and may destabilise a rider. Where possible, install mountable kerb where motorcycles are...
Safe System Snippet 371: Effective Strategies for Reducing Vehicle Strikes on Low Bridges and Structures
There are a variety of known treatments available for low bridges/structures to lessen the risk vehicle strike. These include: Protection beams: Though highly effective in preventing critical collisions, these come with high installation costs and frequent...
Safe System Snippet 370: Pedestrian fences
Pedestrian fences should be separated from traffic lanes (as per the Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6, Section 4.2.2), however in certain situations they may need to be placed closer to the road. In these cases, the safety of all road users needs to be carefully...
Safe System Snippet 369: The million-dollar speeding fine
In parts of Europe speeding fines are adjusted to match the speeder’s salary. Finland is best known for this system where the government uses their existing tax data to work out a fine that provides equal disincentive in relation to their earnings (including...
Safe System Snippet 368: “Looked but Failed to See” Motorcycle Crashes
There are often complex reasons behind "looked but failed to see" crashes involving motorcycles at intersections. It’s a common belief that these crashes are solely caused by drivers deliberately ignoring motorcyclists. However, it is a bit more complex. There are...
Safe System Snippet 367: Key Updates in Austroads’ Design Vehicles and Turning Path Templates Guide
Last year Austroads updated the Design Vehicles and Turning Path Templates Guide. Changes in the fourth edition include: A new design vehicle has been created using the existing Austroads passenger vehicle towing a trailer. The dimensions of the trailer are the...
Safe System Snippet 366: Mitigating Risks at Gore Areas: A Key to Highway Safety
The gore area (the wedge between a freeway/motorway exit and the continuing road) has inherent danger due to its presence in the middle of the traffic lanes. Drivers need to navigate, decelerate, and change lanes at, or on the approach to, the gore areas through...
Safe System Snippet 365: Reverse Angle Parking
Click on the factsheet above to check out some pros, cons and handy pointers. What’s been your experience with Reverse Angle Parking? ------------- Sign up to our mailing list for more snippets and news:...