Engineering - Traffic design experts

Introduction

Traffic design is concerned with the safe and efficient flow of road traffic. This will entail the use of roundabouts, cycle paths, median strips, bus and transit lanes, and speed limits. The placement of warning signs, traffic lights, safety barriers, line markings, streetlights, and toll booths is also equally important. Clever traffic design such as flexible lanes (open in one direction in the morning and the opposite direction in the evening), variable speed limits (imposed by LED signs), and variable duration traffic lights that adjust due to conditions, will also aid the efficient flow of traffic. Another concern of traffic design is to minimise traffic noise to nearby houses, particularly at night.

Traffic congestion has increased dramatically in Sydney and Melbourne as population growth far outstrips the increases in the road infrastructure capacity, resulting in longer transit times. Where traffic hotspots become particularly congested, traffic designers can add lanes or improve access to alternatives. Likewise, where accidents frequently occur, the placement of new warning signs, speed cameras and altered speed limits can help mitigate fatalities. New techniques in road construction can minimise wildlife roadkill by creating tunnels and bridges for native fauna to cross, maintaining migratory corridors.

Traffic design is closely integrated with other disciplines:

• Public transport design and planning
  
• Pavement engineering including dedicated bicycle paths
  
• Highway engineering
  
• Urban planning
  
• Public education campaigns (e.g. speeding, rest breaks, drinking and truck driver visibility)
  
• Traffic monitoring
  
• Electronic real-time traffic updates broadcast to SatNav services such as Google Maps and vehicle GPS systems
  
• Accident investigation
  

At the bottom of this profile are brief details of a number of the experts that Expert Experts represents. Call our office to discuss your requirements and to obtain a recommendation that suits your needs and budget.

Expertise in Action

Experts in traffic design are asked to give opinions in legal cases involving vehicle accidents.

Experts will also be needed when private toll road companies are required to submit traffic designs accompanying their tenders.

Sample Reports

For some fields of expertise we have some sample sections of de-identified reports. Please contact our office if you are interested in a sample.

Cost

The overall cost of expert opinion depends on the services required. Some of the key factors that affect the cost of advice include:

• The need for a view or inspection of a location
• The quantity of documentary material to be reviewed
• Whether there are reports of other experts to be reviewed and commented on in detail
• Whether there is a need for conferences with the expert either in person or by telephone/Skype

Relevant Articles Sydney and Melbourne the worst for traffic congestion

Austroads, the peak organisation of Australasian road transport and traffic agencies, has published a Congestion and Reliability Review which measures levels and identifies key causes of congestion across major cities in Australia and New Zealand.

National Road Safety Action Plan 2018-2020

Through the National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) 2011–2020, the Australian Government and all state and territory governments have set national targets to reduce the annual numbers of fatalities and serious injuries from road crashes by at least 30% by 2020.

Relevant Cases Suvaal v The Nominal Defendant and Anor [2000] NSWSC 1043

The plaintiff alleged that Cessnock City Council had poorly designed, constructed, maintained and repaired Quorrobolong Road which caused him to lose control of his bicycle and suffer serious personal injury.

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