FREQUENCY OF ENCOUNTERS - ACCIDENT RISK AND METHODS OF REDUCING IT

ACTUAL ACCIDENTS IN STREET TRAFFIC ARE COMPARED WITH THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ENCOUNTERS, AND THE RATIO APPEARS TO BE ABOUT 1 TO 10 MILLION. FROM THIS IT APPEARS THAT THE REDUCTION OF CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WOULD ALSO REDUCE ACCIDENTS, THAT OVERLOADING OF THE ROAD NETWORK LEADS TO ACCIDENTS, THAT DRIVERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAJORITY OF ACCIDENTS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS. REMEDIAL MEASURES WOULD BE: EXTENSION OF THE ROAD NETWORK AND OF PARKING SPACES; AVOIDANCE OF ROAD CONSTRICTIONS; BETTER PROTECTION OF PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLE PATHS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION SHOULD PAY CLOSER ATTENTION TO TRAFFIC LAW REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THE AVAILABLE CAPACITY OF ROAD NETWORKS IS USED TO THE FULL. FURTHER CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO THE SPEED LIMIT QUESTION, AND ITS EFFECT ON ACCIDENT STATISTICS. A ROAD SYSTEM DESIGNED WITH FULL REGARD FOR SAFETY CAN BE MADE STILL SAFER BY PROPER TRAFFIC REGULATION. THE INDISPENSABLE REQUIREMENT IS THAT THE ROADS IN A SYSTEM OF HIGHWAYS SHOULD FULLY UTILIZE THEIR TRAFFIC-CARRYING CAPABILITY.