Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Have you ever crossed a very dangerous intersection? Do you know of any spot in particular where a lot of accidents happen? Well...some people do. A University of Minnesota research team has developed a database that tells you where fatalities have occurred near you. University of Minnesota professor Tom Horan says he wants to create awareness about traffic safety. The website has various functionalities, like Google maps that show high fatality rate roads. You could also enter your zip code or an address into the database, and you'll be able to see how dangerous roads are in your area. Professor Horan says he hopes the website will help drivers learn about the dangerous stretches of road and hopes the government at the state and federal level use this information to make roads safer. This new website is using the help of the Center for Excellence in Rural Safety of which Horan directs. The center was created in 2005 with the purpose of enhancing rural road safety. According to the Center's research, half of the 42,000 crash-related fatalities in the United States each year occur on two-lane rural roads. Horan says most people think about congestion on urban areas, but don't know about the many accident that happen on rural roads. The website was recently unveiled and Horan says he feels optimistic about the acceptance of this internet tool. If you would like to learn how safe the roads near you are, or how deadly the next drive may be, visit www-dot-safe-road-maps-dot-org.