Traffic management techniques are provided to answer problems that plague traffic on a road network. The need for a traffic management scheme can be identified in a variety of ways. One of these instances could be when a particular road has been the site of many accidents, prompting motorists and residents to demand an investigation, to stop these accidents from occurring. It is also possible that the Council implements a zonal method in resolving traffic issues. Of course, procedures such as studying the impact on the rest of the roads must first be made. The main purposes for instituting these are the following:
*To achieve safe movement by reducing accident levels.
*To create favorable situations for developing the public transport system.
*To lessen air pollution by preventing the concentration of too many vehicles at a given time on a certain road or area.
*To promote equal opportunities for all sectors in using the road, especially those that have minor physical disabilities.
*To limit the cases of roadside parking.
*To improve pedestrian safety, accessibility and convenience.
*To promote cycling.
Any changes to be implemented by new traffic policies need to be publicized first, allowing for public comment. A three week period is allowed for objections to be received. Whatever comments from the community are submitted will be studied and considered before the laws backing such methods are enacted. Then a legally enforceable Traffic Order can be made and the scheme introduced.The Council, as Highway Authority, is responsible for introducing and maintaining the physical measures and for making any necessary Traffic Orders but with the exception of parking schemes, enforcement of Traffic Orders is the responsibility of Police.
Traffic Management Systems Models
There is no single solution to problems associated with traffic management. A variety of measures are used sometimes in combination.
Speed Cushions
These are mechanisms that are permanently placed on the road to force vehicles to slow down while still allowing them to go through. Road humps, for example, fall under this category. Thus cars are slowed, whereas large vehicles like buses and trucks are generally unaffected. Therefore these road humps (otherwise known as speed humps), address the speed problems particularly with cars. Cars are usually more prone to violate the speed limits. While motorists can ignore speed warnings, the road humps ahead will slow them down.
Chicanes and throttles
For short term measures in controlling speed, temporary barriers and throttles are often used. Here are two examples:
*Chicanes introduce a physical deflection into the vehicles’ horizontal path, thereby further reducing the vehicle speed.
*Throttles narrow the road, frequently to provide a safe crossing point for pedestrians, sometimes in conjunction with a speed table.
Kerb Build Outs
Roadside parking, especially near intersections can be very hazardous. To resolve this, curbs are installed near the intersection’s approach.Consequently, these help prevent smashes at the intersection. Pedestrians are similarly protected, have more space to stand and can also see and be seen better. Cars are forced to park further from a junction or crossing point.
Width Restrictions
Width restriction is a self enforcing means of restricting access for large vehicles on some roads. The measure is usually done by placing posts large enough to prevent entry by such vehicles. There must be an alternative route available for large vehicles, such as refuse collection vehicles.This sometimes limits their services to residential areas.