This includes the placement and maintenance of traffic control devices, traffic studies, and the analyzing of traffic flow to ensure safety and efficiency. This manual gives certain criteria that should be met before the team can use a particular device. These guidelines ensure that motorists have consistency among different communities throughout the country and is mandated by Federal Highway Administration. NTSP is currently working with 274 participants, and studying traffic on 149 streets in 66 neighborhoods. Streets are given speed humps based on a ranking system.
Traffic signals can benefit the community and increase safety when used properly.
However, traffic signals don't always prevent accidents or help control traffic. In fact, while traffic signals generally reduce the number of right angle collisions, the number of rear-end and pedestrian accidents may actually increase. For example, many pedestrians feel secure with a painted cross-walk and a red light between them and an approaching vehicle. The motorist, however, may not be as quick to recognize these barriers, thereby creating a false sense of security for the pedestrian. Traffic on the intersecting streets must both meet defined volumes.