March 3, 2005

Regarding the merging dangers at Pajarito Road security condition posts, there have been several responses subsequently. Let me go back to my main point, which may have been missed.

While, indeed, it is each driver's responsibility to merge as safely as possible, given the design of the merge area, my point was that we have countless instances, in road design and just about every other human-mechanical interface situation, that good design can markedly reduce error. That is why dangerous curves, etc., are constantly being re-engineered when statistics show abnormally high accident rates. The merge design at the SECON posts is inherently dangerous, and given that some people will always be more careless, the use of design that optimizes safety is the way to go.

--Ken Collins