1977 and beyond - a review of roadside hazard management in Victoria since the 1977 symposium

In October 1977, a fixed roadside hazards symposium was conducted jointly by the Australian Road Research Board and the department of transport, Australia, aimed at highlighting the problem of road accidents involving fixed roadside hazards. The symposium set out to identify the magnitude of the problem, review the research current at that time and then suggest possible means of overcoming the increasing trend in the number and severity of run off the road type accidents. This paper reviews the measures introduced in Victoria since the 1977 symposium in the field of roadside hazard management, looks at the effects these measures have had on the accident situation and suggests a possible direction that future policies aimed at improving roadside safety will take (a).