Road geometry can cause fatal  traffic crashes!

By Dumisa Dlamini

The road space is always defined with a category of  hazards a motorist should be cognizant of for a  proper response in his/her manoeuvring on the  road. Certain hazards are said to be moving,  changing, and stationary of even physical. Coming  to unpack road hazards, the very terrain and  geometry of the road infrastructure can be and is a  hazard oftentimes than not. Such hazards are  identified earlier if drivers would scan their road  environment, read and be adherent to the road  signs, regulations, and road markings.  

This signage would be indicative of what the road is  apt to be in a few meters ahead so that drivers could  adjust their speed. The geometrical outlay of the  road poses a lot of physical hazards that cannot be  changed so long as the road is there, which however,  call upon drivers to approach each hazardous space  with caution and appropriate speed. A lot of serious  and fatal accidents have ben realized wherein the  geometry of the road has not been clement, straight,  or easy to pass without losing control of the vehicle. 

CURVES, BENDS AND SHARP CORNERS 

A well designed and furnished road would have  signage and amenities that will inform, prohibit, or  even restrict a driver of the danger posed by that  geographical outlay of the road. That could be a part  where the road curves either side and would not  allow a vehicle to make a safe turn when  over-speeding. Curves and bends therefore have  seen vehicles losing control even before completing  the turn or colliding with oncoming traffic because  this driver had encroached on space not meant for  his travel. His positioning of the vehicle would be  dangerously on the other side, and they would be  trying to balance a vehicle. This applies to sharp  corners where motorists fail to anticipate that  another vehicle would be rightfully on its lane when  they fail to stick to their side. Such occurrences as loss  of control, overturning and head on collisions are  oftentimes than not prevalent as vehicles are  negotiating curves, bends, and sharp corners.

SLOPES, CAMBERS, AND BLIND RISES 

The road may not be flat for a long distance and  drivers are confronted by hazardous slopes,  cambers where the road surface is not even and a  blind rise where they would not see what could be  on the other side. For slopes and ascents drivers  have lost control of their vehicles where they would  overspeed. Yet in some cases others, especially  with heavy loads would fail to ascend a steep hill.  Vehicles have backsilided in such geometrically  conditions of the road and the country has a few of  those like: Malagwane, Mehlwabovu, Mhlosheni,  Ncabaneni to name a few where the sloppiness or  steepness of the road challenges motorists.  

The blind rise is as much dangerous and could  cause fatal accidents especially when the motorists  decide to overtake vehicles in front when  approaching. They may not be aware of oncoming  traffic and a head-collisions or smashes from  behind are very common. In whatever  circumstances where an accident occurs, there  would be a driver who by omission or commission  had an erroneous indulgence. The physical and  geometrical aspect of the road is one area drivers  make mistakes. 

TAKE AWAYS: 

• Approach a defined geometrical area of the  road with caution 
• Kill your speed or you will be killed at the  corner, bend or curve 
• Never overtake on a barrier line
• Engage the correct gear before you ascend or  ascend a sloppy or steep area 
• Scan and understand the road geometry and  be safe