Highway Transportation System Chapter 2 Highway Transportation System

People Vehicles Roadways

Purpose of the HTS Move people and cargo safely and efficiently

People Use the HTS by walking, driving, or riding and are called roadway users Vehicles There are a wide range of vehicles Mopeds and Motorcycles Tractors and Semi-trucks Cars, SUVs, Vans Farm Vehicles Emergency Vehicles Bicycles

Roadways Varies from dirt roads to complex multi-lane expressway Problems with roadways are: Rain Night time Rough pavement

HTS Breakdowns Traffic tie-ups Collisions

Motor Vehicles Deaths Involving Alcohol United States 1999- 34000 deaths 12000-alcohol related 6000-drug related North Carolina 2009- 11,253 crashes 394 fatalities 8736 injuries This means while alcohol a part in just 5% of the total crashes, it accounted for 30% of all fatalities

Sports Utility Vehicles Advantages Bigger, higher and safe for occupants Ford SUV weighs 7,000 pounds In accidents the bigger, higher survive Problems Poor gas mileage High center gravity easier to roll over

Sharing the road with trucks and buses No Zone- represents the danger area around the trucks and buses where crashes are likely to occur

Motorcycles Most dangerous form of transportation 37 deaths per 100,000,000 miles driven, compared to 1.7 for all motor vehicles 70% of deaths are failure to yield to motorcycles.

Mopeds Part of the US highways They are not bicycles or motorcycles Often operated by persons without a license. Travels slow-lane position three Only requirement- 16 years old and wear a DOT helmet

Farm Vehicles Farm vehicles have a right to use the roads They move slow usually 15-18 mph Can be operated by unlicensed persons They cause drivers to take unnecessary risk

Pedestrians 4100 pedestrian/vehicle deaths each year in the US 147 fatalities and 1,682 injuries in North Carolina in 2009 Scan harder around alleys, driveways, residential areas, jogging areas, parking lots

Move Over Law It is the responsibility of the driving public to yield to emergency vehicles The law requires motorist to slow down and approach cautiously when an emergency vehicle is stopped on the shoulder with its lights on On multi-lane highway- move over to another lane or slow down on a two lane highway

Three Skills of Driving Task Physical skill- the person coordination with the vehicle Social skill- interaction with others on the highway. Be positive. Road rage is on a rise. Drivers are often rude Mental skill- five mental skills Understand your vehicle Perception based on stored knowledge understand traffic laws Judge time and space relationship Concentration –study the traffic

Six means of management of HTS DMV- Regulates drivers licenses, truck weight, license plates, fees, registration Enforcement agencies- each police unit, highway patrol help maintain safe travel Traffic court- assure proper enforcement of law Engineering-highway and vehicle Medical aid- reduces the losses caused by collisions Education- high school driver’s education