Improvements to Reduce Traffic Accidents

Any detailed analysis of motor-vehicle accident reports discloses numerous conditions, circumstances, and situations involved in the problem of highway accidents. Consequently, hundreds of causes must be considered and, to complicate the problem further, these causes may operate either singly or in combination. Therefore, it is difficult to determine, with any degree of accuracy, the exact number of accidents that may be charged to the car, the highway, or the highway user. All three elements are involved, and they contribute in one way or another, and in varying degrees, to highway accidents; but the highway user (the driver and pedestrian) is responsible for the greatest number. In other words, most motor--vehicle accidents are caused by some improper action on the part of the person or persons involved, regardless of whether such action was wilful, or due to negligence or ignorance.

It seems reasonable, therefore, to suppose that if all highway users knew, and would voluntarily observe, safe highway practices at all times, the present day accident problem would be materially lessened. Actually, however, the solution is not so simple. Because of human frailties and the impossibility of supervising and governing the actions of all persons at all times, safety on the highway is made extremely difficult . Educational endeavors and increased enforcement activities are not only essential but invariably prove helpful. However, such activities, despite their importance, are not in themselves a complete solution. It is necessary that roadway facilities be designed and applied which are inherently safe, as far as possible, in order to render the failures of human beings of lesser or little importance.