Samenvatting
This paper considers recent measures undertaken in Switzerland to improve safety on main roads passing through villages and towns. The main traffic engineering principles governing these measures are briefly outlined. Approaches to the improvement of planning main roads in town centres are then discussed. Four principles are employed to a) provide a gateway, b) divide the road into lengths according to the local conditions, c) provide indentations to break up the regularity of the road space and d) preservation of building groups and their surroundings. Three examples of the use of these principles in Swiss towns are described together with the results of speed surveys.