ROAD SAFETY ON VERY LOW TRAFFIC ROADS IN UNDEVELOPED RURAL AREAS

This paper describes how rural roads in developing areas often carry very little motorized traffic. Justification for capital investments and maintenance of these roads is based more on social and economic benefits to local communities than on savings in vehicle operating costs. But since these benefits are small and often difficult to measure, the cost of road works must be kept to a minimum. Construction costs are reduced by accepting lower standards for the horizontal and vertical alignment and reducing the width of the road. The durability of roads is enhanced by providing steep camber in order to shed water off the road. Both of these measures result in lower maintenance costs, but may have a significant impact on the safety of road users. Inter-vehicle collisions on very low traffic roads are rare despite short sight distances. But conflicts between motorized vehicles and non-motorized road users are more frequent due to the larger number of pedestrians and cyclists. Road improvements tend to encourage higher vehicle speeds, which can significantly increase road safety risks. Where conflicts occur the non-motorized road users invariably emerge worse off. Cyclists and pedestrians have nowhere to go but off the road, often into a side drain or thick grass. Being forced off the road is an act of self-preservation for cyclists and pedestrians, who are aware that many drivers have little respect for non-motorized traffic. Where collisions occur they often result in death or serious injury. Where collisions are avoided, but the cyclists or pedestrians must take evasive action, the consequences might be limited to minor injuries and damage to bicycles. But the full extent of these damages and the cost to poor rural communities is not known, and may not be fully appreciated. It is apparent that the design of very low traffic roads should take into account the social and economic costs of traffic accidents. Roads should be designed to accommodate the expected mix and growth of all modes throughout the life of the road. But there are a number of areas where further research is required before design guidelines can be produced that enable planners and engineers to achieve an appropriate balance between the conflicting objectives of minimizing construction costs, and yet adequately providing for the safety of road users.