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