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Paved Shoulder

When a driver has accidentally travelled onto the road shoulder the risk of crashing will be less if the vehicles can either stop on the shoulder or safely travel back into the traffic lane.

The vehicle will be better able to do both of these things if the shoulder is wide enough and if the vehicle tyres are able to grip the surface of the shoulder.

A sealed road surface provides the best grip for tyres. When a vehicle leaves the road, and especially when this happens at high speed, stopping and/or steering the vehicle back onto the road will be easier if the vehicle tyres are able to grip the shoulder surface.

An adequate shoulder width makes it easier for a driver to steer the vehicle back onto the road at a shallower angle, reducing the chances that the driver will ‘overcorrect’ and travel into oncoming traffic. Shoulders that are too wide create a hazard if they are used as an additional lane.

The Star Rating Demonstrator is a freely available tool with the iRAP online software, ViDA. With the Star Rating Demonstrator, it is possible to explore the impact that this Safer Roads Treatment has on risk.

Treatment Summary

Costs

Medium

Treatment life

5 years - 10 years

Potential casualty reduction

25-40%

Case Studies

No related case studies at this stage

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