Families planning their summer vacation have much more to consider than what’s going in the suitcase, whether to bring along the family pet, or weigh the pros and cons of booking a condo versus a hotel. First, they have to decide on a destination and then plan the best route to get them safely there and with minimal traffic hassles.
Luckily, a transportation metric for analyzing and forecasting traffic volume can do just that. Today’s software-powered solutions, such as AADT, are helping travelers get the most fun and efficient drive out of their trips by measuring traffic data that’s not only essential to travel but also for city and community planning. And with improved road networks, motorists can travel with confidence whether they’re heading to a sunny beach or making their daily work commute.
Consider these four ways that improved road networks make summer travel easier.
1. Allows for More Efficient Travel
Improved road networks better allow travelers to arrive at their destination on time. Cities across the country are building new highways that cut across vacant land and connect motorists to their destinations by eliminating unnecessary traffic or longer routes. Moreover, the construction of expressways and interstate highways eliminates disruptions such as railroad crossings or pedestrian crossings.
2. Promotes Safer Travel Conditions
Travelers often choose their vacation routes according to highway design and ease of travel; after all, they want a safe and pleasant experience when mapping out their roadmap to fun. Damaged roadways, dangerous intersections, railroad crossings, and detours can lengthen a family’s trip or make for hazardous travel conditions.
Conversely, improved road networks offer motorists the safest travel, and cities with two-lane highway connections can improve their road networks by adding the following:
- Lighting and signage for crosswalks
- Medians and pedestrian refuge islands
- Rumble strips designed to slow traffic
- Bicycle lanes
3. Optimizes Family Vacation Planning
Using AADT software to determine traffic flow on highways provides for better vacation planning and gives travelers the resources they need to determine fast and safe travel routes. Additionally, improved road networks, including interstate expressways that bypass slower two-lane highways, allow families to choose destinations they may have avoided in the past. For example, Interstate 10 stretches across the southern U.S., connecting individuals and families to the coastal waters, cruise ports, casinos, and other family-friendly vacation spots.
4. Helps Manage Travel Demand
Improved road networks can also help to reduce minutes or even hours of typical driving time. For instance, when considering the number of people traveling to Orlando, you can understand the need for improved road networks that include expressways, roundabouts, and toll roads designed to control traffic congestion. The bottom line is providing motorists with reliable travel. When people make travel decisions based on roadway and highway infrastructure, it’s imperative to have an improved road network. Vacationers mean commerce to destinations that depend on annual tourism, and improved transportation is essential for continued prosperity.
Hit the Road and Travel Smarter
Consider the aforementioned ways that improved road networks make summer travel easier. Tools for measuring traffic data provide insight into current and future traffic volume. And, ultimately, having knowledge of driving conditions and road safety can better help families and individuals in planning their summer travel. Hit the road and travel smarter!
