SAFETY INSPECTION OF THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE

ACCIDENT CAUSES MAY BE ASSIGNED TO ANY COMBINATION OF FIVE FACTORS: SOCIETY, HIGHWAY USER, HIGHWAY ENVIRONMENT, HIGHWAY FACILITY, AND VEHICLE. THIS ARTICLE DEALS WITH THE LATTER TWO. SKID RESISTANCE TESTING IS CONSIDERED THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF HIGHWAY FACILITY INSPECTION. EACH OF FOUR BASIC METHODS-- PORTABLE DEVICES, CAR STOPPING DISTANCE, CAR DECELERATION, TOWED TRAILERS-- IS BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION PROGRAMS MUST BE RECEIVED IN LIGHT OF THE GOALS OF ANTI-SKID PROGRAMS. IN THIS REGARD, THE NEED TO IDENTIFY THE VEHICLE FEATURES TO BE INSPECTED, BASED ON RESEARCH INTO THE RELATION BETWEEN VEHICLE CONDITION AND ACCIDENT RATE, IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT. THE TYPES OF INSPECTION SYSTEMS ARE THOROUGHLY DISCUSSED. THERE ARE BASICALLY THREE VOLUNTARY SYSTEMS: THE DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC, THE RANDOM SPOT-CHECK, AND THE TRIAL SUBSTITUTE SYSTEM. THE THREE BASIC VARIETIES OF COMPULSORY SYSTEMS ARE: STATE OWNED AND OPERATED, PRIVATE OPERATION UNDER STATE CONTRACT, PRIVATE OPERATION UNDER STATE APPOINTMENT.