The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-01-14
Highways To Be Safer;
Drivers Still a Problem

ne main highways Oh the luluie die
pictured by Thomas H. Macdonald,
chief Of the U. S. bureau of public
roads, as broad, unobstructed surfaces
over which traffic can flow smoothly
with safety and comfort.
In discussing the work ffe state and
federal governments are doing to make
the main highways safe under modern
traffic conditions, he says:
There will be provided for motor
vehicle operators of the future, road
ways that can be used with safety by
the reasonably careful driver.
THE roads of the future will have
traffic lanes wide enough for ample
speeds we now foresee we will want a
22-foot road for tWo-lane traffic It
will have shoulders wide enough for
stopping; no deep side bitches. Its sur
face will be consistently smooth. and
non skid. 1t will be so designed as to
alignment, profile, and cross section,
that at no place will the traveller sud
denly encounter the unexpected or
come into traffic so slow that if i'm
patient he will be tempted to take a
chance.
Four-Lane Roads.
Where the traffic is so heavy that
two lanes will not carry it, there will
be four-lane roads But they will con-
sist of two lanes on each side of cen
ter parkway-there will be no chance
to meet opposing traffic as there is
in the present road with four contigu-
GUS lanes. Most engineers endorse the
principle Of separated roads wher-
ever more than two lanes must be pro-
vided to carry the traffic.
More highways will be lighted, no
doubt, but the amount of Lighting will
depend on the funds made available
for highways and on whether we find
that we can spend the money in any
venting accidents. Greater dividends
in lives saved per thousand dollars Of
expenditure would result from con-
struction of footpaths along heavily
travelled routes and from separation OF
grades at intersections of main traffic
arteries than from a general lighting
program.
However, lighting will have a place
in the future program. Old methods OF
| lighting are inefficient and Of doubtful
value, but marked improvements are
being made We must experiment to
produce thoroughly efficient system
of lighting. We must also light expert
mental sections of highway and ac-
cumulate accident records as a guide
in determining where the expense Of
lighting is justified. think 1t is clear
that lighting for all roads is not pos
sible now, Installation is not expensive
but operation would cost more than
all the other items of highway main
tenance put together And, as it IS
most highway departments do not have
enough maintenance money to keep
the highways in as good shape as they
would like.
Walkways for Pedestrians.
we viii have pedestrian walkways
at safe distance from the highway
surface; also, on heavily travelled roads
we will have. surfaced areas where
buses may pull out of the stream 81
/ traffic to receive and discharge pas
sengers, and turnouts for the r. F d
carriers to use in serving the boxes Of
their patrons The danger spots which
cannot be eliminated by reason Of great
expense will be plainly indicated by
signs that will advise the motorist what
speed is safe.
THE highway engineers part in pro-
noting highway safety is to design
highways that are safe for reasonably
careful drivers, that is, highways as safe
as they can be built with the funds
available. They will be highways on
which you can pass an overtaken We
hicle with safety, highways that will
not confront a driver with hazardous
conditions without ample notice or
warning When this has been accom-
plished, the highway will occupy its
proper place in supporting the safety
triangle of the road, the vehicle, and
the driver. But finally, safety will al
ways rest with the driver"