The Highway Transportation System (HTS)

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The Highway Transportation System (HTS)

• Mr. Darling

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Do Now

• Define Key terms on pg 10
• Highway Transportation System
• Collision

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Essential Question

1. How is the HTS regulated, and what can drivers do
   to keep it moving smoothly?

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Examples of HTS
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History of the HTS

• The HTS is only about 100 years old.
• In 1902, only about 23,000 cars were on the road.
  However, there were more than 17 million horses
  using the roadways.
• Also, around that time there was only about 150
  miles of paved road.

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History Now

• Now there is about 230 million registered motor
  vehicles.
• 4 million miles of paved road
• Roads are used for 60 of freight transportation
• 79 of roads are used for personal trips and
  travel
• 1st choice of moving people and goods

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Designing Good Highways

• Early American Roads were built along trails.
  Most were giving little or no thought of the
  future.
• Now engineers are carefully designing and
  thinking of routes that best fit everyone.

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What goes into the thinking of engineers?

• Bridges
• Exit and entrance ramps
• Traffic signs
• Traffic lights
• Curves (banked, tilted correctly)

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What types of vehicles travel the HTS?

• Tractor-trailers
• Buses
• Motorcycles
• Mopeds
• Cars
• SUV's
• Trucks

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Who makes up the HTS?

• HTS is often crowded. At times 194 million
  drivers are on the roads.
• 55 million pedestrians and bicyclist use the HTS
• With all of this traffic it is inevitable for
  drivers and pedestrians to make mistakes, and
  drive recklessly.
• This is why it is important to be able to
  anticipate and learn to cope with these unsafe
  practices.

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How is the HTS regulated?

• Federal, state, and local governments work
  together to regulate the HTS.
• Federal law established a country wide speed
  limit of 55 miles per hour. This has recently
  changed in 1995 and allows states to set their
  own speed limit.
• State and local police enforce traffic laws and
  speed limits.

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Federal and State Requirements

• The national traffic and motor vehicle safety
  act- requires all cars to have seat belts,
  shatter proof windows, and correct all recalls.
  Pg. 12
• The National Highway Safety Act- must make
  specific guidelines for state and motor vehicle
  safety programs. Examples inspection,
  registration, drivers license, traffic laws,
  courts, construction and maintenance. It also
  allows states to make their on laws like
  seatbelts, right on red, windshield wipers and
  headlights.

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Go Work

• HTS work sheet
• Be ready to answer questions
• Wrap - up
• HW- Question C Find out more