De Roxas, Jesther G.

CE 4-2
Importance of Traffic Engineering in Highway Engineering
All people of all ages are at significant risk of the roads they take. No one knows
what is going to happen when you are on the road. It is so important to drive safely
and to know and understand how the traffic flow goes. Well, luckily we have different
traffic warning signs, warning signals and traffic signals available along almost all the
roads we take.
The safety, as well as the smooth flow of traffic is very important. It doesn’t just
make people feel secure, but it also provides safety for them. This is why it is
necessary to have a traffic management that will help in organising the flow of traffic
on the roads. Furthermore, in order to have an organised and well-functioning traffic
management, there is also a need for centres that may help in acquiring the
necessary information to any situation.
The major task of the traffic management centres is to process, collect, and
forward the necessary information about a certain traffic situation. Furthermore, it
also helps in guiding and managing the traffic on various roads. These traffic
management centres are all manned all around the clock each and every day of the
year.
It is necessary not just in the United Kingdom, but to all over the world to have a
traffic management that is well-functioning and properly maintained. Because, as
stated earlier, it is important for the safety and security of not only drivers, but also
for pedestrians crossing the road.
One important device/tool, which is beneficial in traffic management are the traffic
signals or traffic management signals.
Traffic signals are the devices that offer maximum control to roads, most especially
in various road intersections. These devices relay messages to both what you must
and must not do as a driver. The major function of the traffic signals is to assign the
proper way to a particular opposing movement of the traffic in a particular road/ road
intersection. Actually, this is done by assigning the proper way that is alternative to
the movements of the road traffic.
Moreover, it is also not hard to understand the traffic management signals or traffic
signals. This is since it has an easy-to-understand interphase or design.
However, there is also a disadvantage to this system. This traffic signals may
cause an extreme interruption to the heavy flow of traffic. This is to allow the crossing
of some other minor movements, which otherwise may not be able to move safely on
the road.
When traffic signals are appropriately installed, they may be beneficial in
increasing the capacity of traffic handling on the road.