|
| 
Chapter 1
Getting Started: How to Identify Roadway Safety Problems
This chapter answers three basic questions: -
How do you identify roadway safety problems? -
Who is responsible for community
roads and how do I contact them? -
What kinds of information do you need to fully describe
roadway safety problems and how can you work with transportation professionals
to get the job done? The strategy
that follows will help you -
Identify those "problem" stretches of road, or "troublespots." -
Identify unsafe operating conditions. -
Ensure that you have the information
you need to describe roadway problems in your community. -
Ensure that your concerns get
to the right people. So where
do you begin? What are you aiming for?
Community leaders like you have
said: "We want to -
...See a reduction in the number and severity of crashes on particularly troublesome
roadways or during hazardous operating conditions. -
...Be able to talk intelligently
to the people responsible for building and maintaining our roads so that they
will incorporate our concerns into their plans and execution strategies. -
...Fix recurrent problems and
do the repairs on the roads, preventing crashes before they occur. -
...Save taxpayers' money by reducing
roadway costs, including those resulting from trauma, injury, and lives lost;
crowded, congested roads; and travel delays due to road repairs and needless crashes." Such
statements could be considered goals to work toward as you make your roads safer.
What are the roadway safety goals specific to your community? Make a list of these
goals.
You can make a difference, and your opinions do
count. Now that you have some goals, what are the next steps to take? |
