In many ways safer road design can make transportation safer for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Aesthetic, scenic, historic, and cultural resources and the physical characteristics of an area are also important factors in designing a road because they help give a community its identity and sense of place, and are a source of local pride.
Road design options that help traffic move safely include:
Federal and state transportation guidelines stress the importance of good design that is both safe for road users and sensitive to the surrounding environment.
The challenge for today's highway designers is to find design solutions, as well as mobility options, that result in a full consideration of these sometimes-conflicting objectives.