The two major goals of traffic control

The whole idea of traffic control is to allow the movement of people and goods in different areas. There may be a variety of factors at play. For example, there could be roadworks or other hazards. Or it may be controls are necessary to protect infrastructure or pedestrian areas. Whatever the case, generally there are two major goals. We want to look at them here.

Efficiency

Firstly, traffic controls need to prioritise efficiency. The main goal is the movement of vehicles. So, measures won't be effective if they cause inefficiencies. The biggest issue is if they cause massive congestion. That can lead to a variety of problems, including accidents, missed appointments, late deliveries, and more.

The main concern if controls aren't efficient is it can lead to higher costs and make people choose alternative methods of transport. Businesses may opt for rail if inefficient road networks mean it is more expensive to transport goods. Individuals may choose public transport if driving is too costly and takes too long.

Safety

The second major goal is to ensure that people and goods can move as safely as possible. Traffic control is essential for that because it creates restrictions and shapes how people drive.

A whole range of different measures can be used to make it as safe as possible for vehicles to move around. This includes road markings, traffic lights, speed limits, and more. You can also have things like barriers and bollards to make it safer.

Conflicts

The interesting thing is that the two main goals can often be in conflict. In many cases it is necessary to sacrifice efficiency in the name of safety. Take traffic lights. They maximise safety by controlling when different streams of traffic can move. However, while doing this they prevent vehicles from moving until they have a green light. The trade off and loss of efficiency is worth it though or all intersections would be incredibly dangerous.

When you consider controls, it is important to think about the balance of efficiency and safety. As a result, you can choose the right measures to achieve the goals of different end users.

Do you need products to help with traffic control?

At Barrier Mart we offer a selection of fantastic products to achieve various traffic management goals. We have speed bumps to make vehicles slow down, barriers to prevent collisions between vehicles and people or buildings, and bollards to restrict access. You can purchase them from us with an eye on maximising safety and efficiency in different settings.

So, if you are looking for traffic control solutions, browse our website or contact us. We'll help you to find exactly what you need.