The Ways Of Highway Safety Improvements - Term Paper Example

The Ways Of Highway Safety Improvements Introduction The case study is about the implementation of several safety improvements on a highway. The task of initiating and implementing these improvements falls under a qualified engineer by the name David Weber, a 23 years old civil engineer. These safety improvements are to take place on a highway connecting District 7. The case evaluates the availability of uncommitted funds within the district owing to the delay in delivery of the snow plow worth $ 50000. It is the duty of David Weber to come up with a number of safety projects that fall under the budget of the uncommitted funds during that particular fiscal year. David suggests two key safety improvements, one on Site A, which is an intersection between the Main and Oak Streets in the major city within the district, and the second on Site B, which is an intersection of Fir and Grape Roads located in a rural area. According to Brach (2003), the safety improvements that David had to come up with for these particular sites were majorly to incorporate more safety on the roads, and as such, eliminate avoidable accidents and any form of confusion on the roads that may lead to fatalities. This incorporates the number of approach lanes at the intersections, the angle of intersections, the ability of the road to support transport activities during all weather seasons, both rainy and dry. In addition, these safety improvements also incorporated the variety of mixes of trucks, as well as passenger vehicles, various driving habits, and various approach speeds at the lane intersections. These safety improvements for the two sites required appropriate approval from the concerned regulatory and licensing stakeholders, such as the National Safety Council (NSC), as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Furthermore, these improvements had to fall within the budgetary provisions of the state. Theoretical Approach In order for David to come up with the right choices of safety improvements at the two main sites identified, it is imperative for him to consider the application of various theories that guide his decision making. These theories embody the concept of safety improvements within these highways, as well as evaluate the level of efficiency, as well as the benefits that would accrue to the citizens residing within the city, and in the rural areas, who use these roads more frequently. As such, the theory provides a framework through which the civil engineer makes the best decisions on safety improvements on each of the selected highways and intersections that would be most beneficial to the concerned stakeholders. In this case, David has to ponder over the effective application of these two theories while making his decision on the safety improvements to incorporate at both Sites A and B. these theories include the Utilitarianism theory, and the Aristotle’s theory. These are ethical theories that incorporate the ethical point of view into the suggested or planned safety improvements. a. Utilitarianism This is a theory in normative ethics that advocates that every moral action has to maximize utility. Utility in this case has numerous definitions, with some of them being the pleasure one derives from a moral action, the economic well being that results from such an action, as well as the lack of suffering or the end of challenges that results from the execution of such a moral action. Kraut (2002) argues that the theory of utilitarianism appears as a form of consequentialism, thereby implying that the “end results of the moral action undertaken justifies the means through which the action was implemented.” This view can either contrast or combine with the perception beard on various intentions, virtues, as well as the compliance with set rules and regulations as being ethically important. Therefore, in applying the theory of utilitarianism in the above case of David Weber decisions, it is imperative to consider that the safety improvements he decides to set up at the two intersections have to be beneficial, and as such, bring about a significant sense of utility to the users of both roads. This is considering the economic value, as well as the pleasure in doing the safety improvements, and the elimination of suffering. This also incorporates the happiness that will come about especially to the users of these roads owing to the additional safety improvements suggested and implemented by David Weber. In this case, the safety improvement will definitely reduce the number of accidents that would otherwise occur at these two sites due to the absence of such guidelines. Therefore, the introduction of these safety improvements was essential in reducing the fatality rates recorded at these intersections, as well as easing the traffic on the roads for its users. Consequently, and in accordance to the theory of utilitarianism, it is evident that the introduction of these safety improvements brings pleasure to the people using these roads, especially by enabling the free flow of traffic at the intersections. Furthermore, it also eliminates the challenges that usually arise at these intersections, such as traffic jams, or road accidents that were prone at these sites thereby enhancing the utility factor of these sites. In addition, these safety improvements adhere to the concept of utilitarianism theory by enabling motorists and pedestrians alike to reduce the rate of fatalities and accidents at these road intersections (Englehardt, James, Harris, Pritchard and Rabins, 2013). b. Aristotle’s Theory Aristotle also developed a moral ethical approach to decision making procedures, and as such, instrumental for David Weber to apply in making the selections for the safety improvements at the two intersections. As such, it is critical to first understand what Aristotle’s ethics is all about. According to Aristotle, ethics is simply a common sense ethics built on the concepts of self realization, as well as naturalism. Therefore, this theory on ethics by Aristotle does not favor personal or self interest, but rather looks at the general benefit that all the people within a given moral setting will derive from a given decision or a moral action. For instance, Aristotle argues that with respect to good, happiness and right, the good is not a disposition, but rather the good involves a teleological system that involves actions. Therefore, a right action is one which is conducive to the good. Different goods correspond to differing arts and sciences. In applying Aristotle’s ethical approach to this case, it is instrumental for David Weber to come up with safety improvements on these roads that are good, or those that bear the concept of good, thereby being beneficial to the people intended to be served by the said improvements. For instance, it is evident that the safety improvements are supposed to improve the level of safety for the different road users at two different sites identified within the district. In a recent research conducted by Smart and Williams (1973), these safety measures will in turn benefit the entire community by reducing the level of risks associated with the selected intersections, one at a rural setting, while the other one is at an urban setting. The benefits that accrue to the road users from the implementation or the introduction of these safety improvements by David Weber amount to the good suggested by the ethical theory of Aristotle. Conclusion and Recommendations In conclusion, it is evident that every moral action taken has an underlying ethical theory that guides the decision maker in coming up with the right choices of actions. These ethical theories suggest that every moral action adopted by an individual must bring about extensive benefits to the people involved, especially the persons directly involved or attached to the moral action in question. This is because the moral action should bring about good, happiness, and joy for the users or beneficiaries of such moral actions, according to Aristotle’s theory of ethics. On the other hand, such a moral action should be seen to eliminate a given issue or challenge within the society, as evidenced by the utilitarianism theory. Therefore, all moral actions must be beneficial to the concerned stakeholders (Neumann, Pfefer and Raub, 1999). As for the case in consideration, the moral and ethical question arises in the decisions made by David Weber in instituting safety improvements at two major intersections within the district. The safety improvement decisions made by this civil engineer for each particular intersection has to consider the two theories, put every aspect into consideration, as well as follow the guidelines and provisions from each ethical perspective in order to be more beneficial to the people involved. The two intersections need to be more safer for its users after the implementation of these safety improvements as suggested by the civil engineer, and as such bring about a number of benefits and advantages, such as reduced traffic congestions, reduced accidents and fatalities on the road, ease of usage on these roads, as well as enhanced safety and security for the users of these roads, both motorists and pedestrians. References Brach, A. (2003). Interim Planning For a Future Strategic Highway Research Program, Issue 510. Washington, D.C: Transportation Research Board. Englehardt, E., James, R., Harris, C., Pritchard, M. & Rabins, M. (2013). Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases. Stamford, Connecticut: Cengage Learning. Kraut, R. (2002). Aristotle: Political Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Neumann, T., Pfefer, R. & Raub, R. (1999). Improved Safety Information To Support Highway Design, Issue 430. Washington, D.C: Transportation Research Board. Smart, J. & Williams, B. (1973). Utilitarianism: For and Against. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Read More