Road traffic crashes are known to be multi-factorial or multi-causal in nature and traditionally road safety programs have had an emphasis on dealing with factors such as speeding, drink-driving, vehicle occupant protection and vehicle crashworthiness. In the background is the physical road environment in which crashes take place. Road engineers and managers have a prime responsibility for addressing the safety factors related directly to the road environment itself. The central approach adopted by practitioners is to ensure a safer road environment, from both the micro perspective (the safety characteristics of road sections) and the macro perspective (the safety performance of the road network). It should be applied at all stages of road/transport development- for example, in the planning of new developments, in the design of new roads, in safety improvements for existing roads, in remedial treatments of hazardous locations, and in routine maintenance programs. The emergence of road safety engineering represents an augmentation of basic road and traffic engineering expertise, which is achieved through specific safety training. (a).
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