MODERN MOTORWAYSMODERN MOTORWAYSMODERN MOTORWAYSSAFETY FEATURES FORSAFETY FEATURES FORSAFETY FEATURES FOR

THE EUROPEAN CITIZENSTHE EUROPEAN CITIZENSTHE EUROPEAN CITIZENSTHE EUROPEAN CITIZENSTHE EUROPEAN CITIZENSTHE EUROPEAN CITIZENSMaurizio ROTONDO

Chairman, ASECAP Permanent Committee onSafety & Environment

European Parliament, Brussels – 21 January 2008

ASECAP is:ASECAP is:

ASECAP is the Europeanprofessional Association ofOperators of Tolled RoadInfrastructures.Infrastructures.

It gathers and represents theorganisationsorganisationsorganisations of 212121countriescountriescountries (among Effectiveand Associated Members),managing a toll network ofover 25,000 kmover 25,000 kmover 25,000 km

Motorway safety featuresMotorway safety features

Road design criteria and safety features are strictly based on therelationship between man and infrastructure:

Perspective visionPerspective vision

Since the planning and the design level, specific safety features are applied,respecting the most up-to-date requirements,, in order to ensure high qualitystandards and excellent levels of service of the infrastructures

MANMAN(Driver)(Driver)

INFRASTRUCTUREINFRASTRUCTURE

Perspective visionPerspective visionSight distanceSight distanceConfortConfort

Motorways are designed according to drivers’ based constraintsMotorways are designed according to drivers’ based constraints

Every motorway section respect prescribedgeometrical standards (i.e. minimum radius, verticalcurves, etc) and proper balance between horizontaland vertical alignment in order to guarantee a rightperception of road characteristics and to preventoptical misguidance

Motorway safety featuresMotorway safety features

Motorways are characterised by the best visual guidanceMotorways are characterised by the best visual guidance

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Motorway safety featuresMotorway safety features

Motorways apply engineering techniques aimed at preventingMotorways apply engineering techniques aimed at preventingmisbehaviour and to give drivers the necessary time to carry out anymisbehaviour and to give drivers the necessary time to carry out any

manoeuvre in safety conditionsmanoeuvre in safety conditions

Motorways are characterised by dualcarriageways for the two directions of flows(completely separated by a central reserve),

Motorway safety featuresMotorway safety features

Motorways are usually designed to ensureMotorways are usually designed to ensure no interferences betweenno interferences betweenconflicting traffic flowsconflicting traffic flows

(completely separated by a central reserve),the lack of intersections at level, proper lanesfor on/off merging and the presence of grade-separated interchanges

All the elements described, added to regular and planned maintenanceand to careful and proper management, make toll motorways safer thantoll motorways safer thanany other type of roadany other type of road, thanks also to the constant engagementconstant engagement of allthe operators and of the considerable fundsconsiderable funds devoted to design andoperation.

ConclusionConclusion

operation.

But the engagement of ASECAP’s members goes even beyond and itregards also continuous and considerable funding for road safetycontinuous and considerable funding for road safetyresearchresearch and for projects on new and more efficient systemsnew and more efficient systems topreserve citizens’ life.

ASECAP’s Members are successfully contributing to EU goal aimed atASECAP’s Members are successfully contributing to EU goal aimed athalving the number of road fatalities by 2010 as set in the White Paperhalving the number of road fatalities by 2010 as set in the White Paper

on Transport Policy in 2001on Transport Policy in 2001