The Roadway Safety Foundation conducted an extensive review of the technical literature of the past twelve years to identify major safety issues associated with the roadway. They occur on both straight and curved sections and often involve either rollover of the vehicle or collisions with fixed objects such as trees, utility poles, etc. Also includes temporary conditions related to ice or snow. The width of each travel lane, the presence of a road shoulder, and their basic construction characteristics are all important to road safety. The travel lane defines the space in which drivers have to perform all maneuvers common to driving in a safe manner.
Shoulders provide buffer space and a place for disabled vehicles to stop clear of traffic.
Narrow Bridges Bridges whose width is less than that of the approaching travel lanes and shoulders are a known cause of crashes. While they are relatively infrequent, they are often severe. Collisions result from vehicles striking the ends of bridges, guardrails, curbing, or vehicles traveling in the opposite direction. Other safety problems exist at intersections and interchanges, railroad crossings, work zones, and in growing commercial and residential areas where access management issues are critical. Future efforts may focus attention on these safety problems as well.