ROAD DESIGN AND SAFETY

Road Traffic Safety

Road traffic safety is the process of reducing the risk of a person getting injured while using roads

Engineers design roads to protect people and get people to their destination in a timely manner

Facts on Road Safety

2.35 million people are injured or disabled due to traffic crashes every year

Correct use of seat belts reduces risk of injury or death by 61%

Nearly 8,000 people are killed in crashes involving drivers ages 16-20 every year

What are some ways that engineers keep roads safe?

Barriers

Road design

Speed limits

Traffic lights and signs

What do barriers do? Separate oncoming

traffic

Prevents cars from veering off the road, and serious injuries

Protects construction workers and pedestrians

Types of Barriers

Concrete Barriers

Traffic Cones/Guards

Guard Rail Barriers

Steel Cable Barrier

Road Designs Road and civil engineers design roads for

specific areasDetermine the vehicles that will pass through and

how many lanes will be neededDesign shoulders on side of roads – used to pull

over during emergency

Speed Limits Sets maximum

speed which vehicles can legally go

Created to control flow of traffic

Vehicle weight and stopping time put into consideration, as well as location

Traffic Lights and Signs Another device to help

control traffic

Traffic lights also help flow of traffic by stopping traffic from one direction to the next

Signs advise drivers what to expect ahead in the roads and how to act while driving

What should you do in an emergency?

Pull over to the side of the road, preferably off the road or on the shoulder

Put on hazard lights and make other vehicles know you’re parked

Get help by calling police or local services

Exercise caution!

Careers• Salary: $55,000 - $65,000• Education: Bachelor’s• Experience: 0-2 years

Civil Engineer

• Salary: $47,000 - $55,000• Education: Bachelor’s • Experience: 0-2 years

Transportation Engineer

• Salary: $51,000 - $59,000• Education: Bachelor’s• Experience: 4 years

Geotechnical Engineer

• Salary: $38,000 - $57,000• Education: High School Diploma/G.E.D/Some College• Experience: 0-2 years

State Patrol

• Salary: $33,000 -$42,000• Education: High School Diploma/G.E.D.• Experience: 0-2 years

Construction Worker

Civil Engineer

Civil engineers are able to develop plans to create and design roads

Planning involves estimating the costs of projects and the dates that projects may be finished

Transportation Engineer

Determines speed limits and placements of signs along roads by forecasting traffic flow

Ensures that the roads are safe, well-organized and cost-effective

Geotechnical Engineer

Helps planning in creating safe roadways by testing if the area’s ground is suitable

Surveys and maps geographic information and relays the information to civil engineers

State Patrol

Enforces road safety laws such as speed limits and distracted driving

Gives people tickets and warnings for not following laws

Construction Worker

Builds and maintains roads to specific standards

Uses heavy machinery to complete tasks

Activity Design your own 3D Model of Transportation

Effectiveness and Roadway Safety

First, use the grid paper to plan out your roadways

Must include:○ Barriers○ Speed limits ○ Shoulders○ Traffic signs○ Multiple lanes

Take your roadway plan and create a 3D Model with

different roadway materials