Final answer:
Expressways have lower collision rates due to controlled access, median barriers, tailored design for high speeds, regulated speed limits, and effective traffic flow management. These elements contribute to making high-speed travel less risky compared to other highways.
Step-by-step explanation:
Expressways are designed for low-risk high speed travel and generally have lower collision rates than other highways for several reasons:
- Controlled Access: Expressways often have limited access points, which reduces the potential for conflicts and collisions.
- Median Barriers: The presence of median barriers prevents head-on collisions caused by vehicles crossing over into oncoming traffic.
- Highway Design: The design of expressways includes features such as banking turns and gentle curves that are tailored to accommodate higher speeds safely.
- Regulated Speed Limits: Although speeds are higher, they are consistently regulated, which can help reduce collisions due to speed differentials.
- Traffic Flow Management: Expressways are designed to manage large volumes of traffic with minimal stops and interruptions, further decreasing the chances of collisions.
Historically, the construction of the interstate highway system was also influenced by the increasing number of vehicles, leading to significant improvements in road design and safety over local and state roads.