2. Learning Outcomes Identify common safety improvement myths.
Explain the reality to each myth.
Provide factual information to counter common road safety myths.
Identify and locate appropriate safety information, resources, and/or tools.

3. Myth vs. Reality
1. What myths about road safety have you encountered within your community?
How can you overcome these myths to improve road safety within your community?

4. Myth: Reality: Myth vs. Reality Safety costs a lot Can do a lot for
little to no
cost

5. Example
3-5

6. Example
3-6

7. Myth: Reality: Myth vs. Reality
I can’t do safety because first I have to repave
(or replace my signs)
Reality:
Safety can be incorporated into all activities

8. Consider
Is blanket replacement of signs the best use of funds or are there high-crash locations without signs that would benefit from sign installation?
Is safety one of the criteria for determining when roads/streets need to be repaved?
How will higher travel speeds brought about by resurfacing affect safety for motorists and pedestrians?

9. Myth: Reality: Myth vs. Reality
Crashes are the driver’s fault and there’s nothing I can do about it.
Reality:
Crashes have multiple causes
(driver, roadway and vehicle)

10. Crash Causes
Roadway
Driver
93%
34%
27%
57% 3% 6% 2%
Vehicle
12% 1%

11. Accommodate Drivers
Drivers need certain information to make decisions.
They need time to receive and process that information and arrive at those decisions.
They sometimes make incorrect decisions.
Road system should accommodate drivers, not the other way around.

12. Wider roads and intersections could have unintended consequences
Myth vs. Reality
Myth:
Wider is
always safer
Reality:
Wider roads and intersections could have unintended consequences

13. Example
3-13

14. Example
3-14

15. Crash reports are used in making roads safer.
Myth vs. Reality
Myth:
Crash reports are completed by police officers only for insurance companies.
Reality:
Crash reports are used in making roads safer.

16. Install Traffic Signal
Example
Before
STOP Controlled
After Alternative 1:
Install Traffic Signal
After Alternative 2:
Roundabout

17. Myth: Reality: Myth vs. Reality
Unpaved roads have the same safety issues as paved roads
Reality:
Unpaved roads have unique maintenance and safety issues

18. Poor drainage and surface condition
Example
Poor drainage and surface condition
Good drainage and surface condition which result in less roadway departures

19. How have you overcome those myths to improve road safety?
What are other myths about road safety have you encountered at work or your community?
How have you overcome those myths to improve road safety?

20. Resources

21. Resources

22. Resources

23. Resources

24. REVIEW
Identify some of the things that road agencies do that dispel the myth that safety costs a lot.
Routine maintenance
Doing the job right

25. REVIEW
Drivers are one factor in road crashes. What are the other two factors?
Road conditions
Vehicle

26. REVIEW
Insurance companies are the only people who use police crash reports. True or False
False. Crash reports can be used to help identify safety issues and solutions.

27. Summary Identify common safety improvement myths.
Explain the reality to each myth.
Provide factual information to counter common road safety myths.
Identify and locate appropriate safety information, resources, and/or tools.

28. Myth vs. Reality
QUESTIONS?