Increased Advocacy Needed for Median Separation on Swedish Roads
Advocates emphasize the need for increased median separation on Swedish roads to enhance safety amid dropping installation rates.
Key Points
- • Advocates call for increased investment in median separation barriers on roads.
- • Annual installation of median separation barriers has significantly decreased.
- • Funding for regional safety plans has dropped from 15% to 10% of the budget.
- • Speed limits have been temporarily lowered as a stopgap measure instead of implementing lasting improvements.
The call for increased median separation on Swedish roads has gained momentum as advocates push for improved traffic safety measures. Jacob Sidenvall from Riksförbundet M Sverige has highlighted the urgent need for investment in median barriers to significantly reduce head-on collisions, which remain a leading cause of road fatalities in Sweden.
Recent statistics reveal a troubling trend: the annual installation of median separation has dropped dramatically from approximately 25 miles per year to a mere 6 miles. In light of the increasing dangers, the Swedish Transport Administration has temporarily lowered speed limits on many roads from 90 km/h to 80 km/h, although many believe that this is not a sustainable solution. Sidenvall notes, "The safest roads designed for speeds of 120 km/h have separated lanes, proving that the physical environment is crucial to traffic safety."
Funding remains a contentious issue, as the allocation for regional infrastructure plans has decreased from 15% to just 10% of the total infrastructure budget in a very short period. This reduction poses a significant challenge to the implementation of necessary safety enhancements. Sidenvall strongly advocates for regional politicians to prioritize funding for these essential road improvements, stressing that increased median separation could greatly mitigate risks on the roads. As road safety advocates continue to resonate this message, the focus shifts to ensuring that regional funding aligns with the urgent need for safer travel conditions.