Road Design Basics and Real-World Questions – Insights from Studying Local Access Roads

Studying Local Access Road design at TAFE has given me a fresh perspective on how different roads function and the design elements that go into making them safe and accessible. For my project, I focused on basic local road structures, so I didn’t include specific self-explaining road features. But as I learned more, I realised how important these features are in real-world designs to keep everyone safe.

What is a Self-Explaining Road?

The Road Planning and Design Manual by the Department of Main Roads (Chapter 2) describes a self-explaining road (Fuller et al., 2002) as “a road whose features communicate to the driver the type of road it is and what can be expected in terms of the elements of the design.” In other words, things like speed bumps, lane narrowing, and other subtle cues naturally encourage drivers to slow down and pay attention. It’s a way of guiding behaviour without needing endless signs.

Project vs. Real-World Roads

In my project, I focused on a basic Local Access Road design without self-explaining elements. But seeing real roads, I realised how useful these features can be. The road in the image above, for example, is in a residential area and has speed-control elements built in to keep drivers at safe speeds. Features like these make a huge difference in real life, especially in neighbourhoods where pedestrian safety is key.

Question – Could Roads Without Lane Markings Be Self-Explaining?

One question that came to mind while working on this project: could roads without lane markings also be a type of self-explaining road? Without markings, drivers usually adjust their speed based on the road’s width and pay closer attention to other vehicles. Have you ever driven on a road without lane markings? Did it make you drive differently? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

In the next post, I’ll dive into vertical alignment and gradient calculations in road design.