Introduction
According to the article, street patterns have undergone a rapid evolution. They have moved from the Gridiron in the 1900s to the Lollipops on a Stick that came into use in the 1980s. According to the author, when designing roads, one should consider the efficiency of road users so as to maintain road safety. Roads experience congestion during peak hours of the day, and an easy-flow during off-peak hours. The road should accommodate all users such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and passengers.
A decent road should meet the desires of all its users and must be safe for all ages. Both the able-bodied and disabled should be comfortable when using the road. Roads built with little or no disruption to the community add value to the development of society. It enables members of the community to access the market of their products easily. Roads serve as links between buyers and sellers, hence promote trade.
Analysis
The author suggests that land should be conserved in order to preserve prehistoric and historic archeological sites. These sites are found on land, and when land is not maintained, they are destroyed. Destruction of land may also affect its drainage system. Drainage destruction can be a health hazard to those living around the area destroyed. Therefore, the land is a multipurpose asset that needs to be protected by all means.
As such, when designing roads, activities that create beauty on land should be preserved. Roads should have grades to assist trucks to go down the slope slowly. This is to enhance safety among all road users. When constructing the road, one encounters hills and valleys. A trench from a hill can be cut and used to fill and cover a valley so as to get a level ground for a road to be constructed. Some hills and valleys may be dangerous if left in their natural design. There are various types of roads. They include parkways, freeways, highways, and superhighways that allow speeding.
Roads should have facilities such as traffic lights to guide road users. Pedestrians and drivers should use these lights to maintain harmony. When erecting traffic lights, the road constructor should use appropriate colors such as red, green, and yellow. Road users will use the color of traffic lights to understand how they should use the road. Construction engineers should consider putting reflection marks on the road for those who use the road at night.
These reflections can guide the road user so as to avoid accidents. Signs are useful on the road since they act as guides when using the road. For example, where there is a school and children are crossing, a road sign will be used to communicate to drivers to slow down. There are three types of highway intersections that one should keep in mind. They include diamond, cloverleaf, and directional interchange.
Conclusion
Roads tend to wear out when they have been for a long time. Cracks and potholes may develop on the road, which may be dangerous. Such cracks can be filled with concrete so as to contain their further deterioration. This indicates that roads should be maintained for safe use after construction. When neglected, such roads can be carnage points where human beings may lose lives. Secondly, poor maintenance of roads may affect the transportation of produce to the market, because they are facilitators of the economy. When using the road, one should be mindful of the welfare of other road users. This will go a long way towards enhancing road safety for all users.