Road safety dictionary
Welcome to the Fundación Aleatica “Road Safety Terms Dictionary”. The purpose of this dictionary is to inform the general public of the terms and definitions used in the road safety and sustainable mobility field in order to increase awareness and knowledge about the importance of road safety on public roads.
In this dictionary, you will find a section of key terms related to road safety and sustainable mobility, accompanied by a brief and clear definition. This information will allow you to understand and effectively apply these terms in your daily life, whether it be as a driver, pedestrian, public transport user or any other role you may play as you transit through the public spaces of your street, city or country.
Road safety is a priority for Fundación Aleatica and we hope that this dictionary helps you understand and apply best practices to guarantee road safety on public roads. Thanks for visiting us and we hope that this tool is useful to you!
In addition to this initial section of terms, at Fundación Aleatica, we believe that the “Road Safety Terms Dictionary” can be a tool in constant evolution that is fed by the experiences and knowledge of users and road safety experts. We invite you to submit your recommendations and comments, to help us improve and expand this dictionary. We want this project to be useful to everyone and we’re counting on you to make that happen. Feel free to reach out!
This first version of the dictionary has been prepared by the team of specialists at Alianza Nacional por la Seguridad Vial (ANASEVI A.C.). We hope you find it very helpful in helping you have a better understanding of the fundamental terms used in this field. We also commit to keeping this dictionary up to date and continuing to expand it with terms to offer increasingly more complete and updated information.
Click on a letter to go directly to it. To return to this section, click on the large print in the first column.
ABS brakes
Braking system that stops the wheels from blocking during an emergency brake, improving the stability of the vehicle and reducing braking distance.
Accessibility
Methods adopted to appropriately ensure access to people with disabilities under equal conditions as others in the physical environment, on transport, and in information and communications, including information systems and technologies, and other services and facilities open to the public or for public use.
Active safety
Set of standards and technologies aimed at avoiding traffic accidents, like braking systems, lighting, signs and horizontal and vertical signage.
Aquaplaning
Phenomenon that occurs when the tires of a vehicle lose contact with the pavement due to a layer of water on the highway, reducing braking capability and control of the vehicle.
Awareness
Transmission of information to the public, in order to raise awareness about use of the roadway and the problems that can arise there.
Blind spot
Area not visible to the driver in the rear-view mirrors.
Braking distance
The distance a vehicle travels from the time the brake is pressed to a full stop. Depends on the speed of the vehicle and the road conditions.
Breathalyzer
Device used to measure the level of alcohol in the blood of a driver, through a breathing apparatus.
BRT transport
A mass public transit system that uses high speed buses, exclusive lanes and pre-established stations for passenger boarding and deboarding.
Bus stop
Specifically marked location on a highway where busses pick up and drop off passengers.
Care mobility
Trips made as a result of activities related to unpaid work and caretaking of people who require another person with them to travel, dependents or others with specific needs.
Carpooling
A mode of shared transport where various people share one vehicle to travel a common trajectory.
Construction zone
Area of a highway or road where construction or road work is being performed.
Counter direction
When a vehicle drives in the opposite direction than the established direction.
Curvature
Term that refers to the curve in a highway or road.
Cyclist
Person traveling by bicycle on public roads.
Daytime driving lights
Front lights of a vehicle that turn on automatically when the vehicle is in motion to improve visibility during the day.
Discrimination due to reasons of disability
Understood to be any differentiation, exclusion or restriction due to reasons of disability made for the purpose or goal of hindering, belittling or failing to recognize the equality of condition of all with respect to human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, and civil spheres, among others. This includes all types of discrimination.
Distractor
Object that distracts the driver’s attention from driving, putting road safety at risk.
Driver
Person driving a vehicle on a public road.
Emergency exits
Exit designed for use in case of emergency, especially in public transport or passenger vehicles.
Emergency lights
Flashing lights of a vehicle used to indicate an emergency situation or a vehicle stopped on the highway.
Emergency vehicle
Vehicle used to respond to an emergency, like an ambulance or fire truck.
Escape route
Exit path identified for use in emergency situations.
Excess speed
Driving a vehicle at a speed over that permitted by law or over the speed that is safe for the road conditions.
Exclusive lane
Lane for use exclusively by certain types of vehicles, such as buses or bicycles, in order to improve the flow of traffic and road safety.
Following distance
Space that should be left between the vehicle that is ahead and the vehicle that is behind in order to avoid collisions in emergency braking situations.
Full street
Those designed to facilitate safe transit of people using the roadway, based on the hierarchy of mobility, fostering coexistence and providing accessible and efficient travel. Full streets incorporate universal design criteria, broadened sidewalks or obstacle-free spaces shared by pedestrians and vehicles, resizing of lanes to promote safe speeds, exclusive lanes for public transport, cyclist infrastructure and signage that is appropriate and visible at all times.
Gender sensitization
Design, implementation and execution of programs and public policies that address the issues of gender inequality
Highway
Fast speed roadway with restricted access, designed exclusively for the transit of motorized vehicles and with exchanges for access and exit.
Hybrid vehicle
Vehicle that uses more than one form of propulsion, generally with an internal combustion engine combined with an electric engine.
Intersection
Point at which two or more public roads cross, where turning and crossing maneuvers by vehicles and pedestrians occur.
Intersectionality
Set of multiple inequalities that coincide and intersect on a person or group, increasing their unfavorable situation, risk, exposure or vulnerability when making use of the roadway.
Last mile delivery
The transport of merchandise from the last storage center to the final destination, generally a private residence or a business.
Level crossings
Level intersections where the railway crosses the highway.
Load limit
The maximum weight that a vehicle is permitted to carry, including the weight of the vehicle itself and the load.
Loading and unloading zone
Public roadway area used for loading and unloading of merchandise from vehicles in order to improve logistics and avoid obstructing the roadway.
Low emissions zone
Area where access of certain vehicles is restricted to reduce air pollutants.
Mandatory stop
Traffic sign that indicates that drivers must come to a full stop before continuing.
Median
Physical barrier or gap of separation between opposing directions of traffic on a highway.
Mobility hierarchy
I. Pedestrians, with an equal and differentiated approach considering gender, people with disabilities and people with limited mobility; II. Cyclists and people using non-motorized vehicles; III. Public transport service providers and users, with an equal but differentiated approach; V. Goods and merchandise transport and distribution providers; and VI. Users of private motorized vehicles.
Mobility pyramid
Conceptual model that ranks the different methods of transportation based on their environmental impact and road safety. At the top of the pyramid are sustainable and safe methods, like walking or cycling, while at the bottom are more dangerous and polluting forms of transportation, like cars.
Mobility systems
Set of elements and resources related directly or indirectly to transit and mobility, whose structure and interaction allow for the movement of people, goods and merchandise in the public space.
Passing
A maneuver performed by a driver to move ahead of another vehicle moving in the same direction.
Passive safety
Set of measures and technologies aimed at protecting vehicle occupants should an accident occur, like seatbelts, airbags and child restraint systems.
Pedestrian
Person traveling by foot on the public roadway
Pedestrian bridge
Bridge built to allow pedestrians to cross a highway or road safely.
Pedestrian collision
Traffic accident where a vehicle impacts a pedestrian, causing injuries or death.
Pedestrian crossing
Defined location for pedestrians to cross the street often marked out with white or other-colored lines.
Peripheral vision
Observation technique used by drivers to perceive motions or actions outside of their direct line of sight.
Photo radar fine
An economic fine levied against a violating driver, captured by photo and video cameras installed on public roads.
Public roadway
All space in the public domain and common use intended for the transit of pedestrians and vehicles, as well as the provision of public services and the installation of infrastructure and furniture.
Public transportation
Transport service that offers public roadway users access to collective-use vehicles that comply with certain standards and regulations.
Pylon
Road signage device used to define work or danger zones on the public road.
Rearview mirror
Mirror that allows the driver to see the vehicles or people who are behind the vehicle.
Residential area
Area within a city, town or community that is used primarily for housing and has lower speed limits to protect the residents.
Right-of-way
Right of a vehicle or pedestrian to pass on a preferential basis over other users while traveling on the public roadway.
Risk factor
Any act or action that makes it difficult to prevent a traffic accident, as well as the implementation of proven risk mitigation measures.
Road accident
Unexpected event that occurs on the public roadway and involves one or more vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists, and that may result in injuries or physical damages. This can be accurately referred to as a Road Mishap, as it is something unpredictable.
Road education
Activity aimed at promoting road culture among the population, targeted at all people who use the roadway, with the goal of generating change in social behavior patterns.
Road infrastructure
Set of physical elements that comprise the public roadway system, such as highways, streets, signage, traffic lights, etc.
Road maintenance
Set of activities aimed at conserving and improving the condition of the public roadway infrastructure, guaranteeing safety and comfort for users.
Road Safety
Set of measures and actions adopted to prevent and reduce traffic accidents and their consequences. These measures may include awareness campaigns, design of safe infrastructure, application of traffic laws and regulations, among others.
Road Safety Audits
Methodology applicable to any type of road infrastructure used to identify, recognize and correct deficiencies before they become road incidents or after an incident has occurred.
Road system
Comprehensive set of roadways in common use that comprise the urban area.
Roadway
Physical space intended for the transit of pedestrians and vehicles.
Safe system
Comprehensive approach to road safety management that is based on the premise that human error is inevitable, so the transport system must be designed to minimize the negative impact of these errors. This focus encompasses everything from the design of safe infrastructure to implementation of speed and vehicle use control measures.
Safe systems
Effective, efficient and priority practices that redistribute responsibilities among all the different players involved in mobility rather than just the users, with risk-free roads, transport safety systems in vehicles and safe speeds being particularly relevant.
Safer vehicles
A safer vehicle (including motorcycles) is one that is designed, manufactured and assembled to protect the lives of its occupants and road users outside the vehicle. To this end, they must have safety features that reduce the likelihood of an incident and the severity of the consequences should an incident that could not be avoided occur.
Safety barrier
Physical elements installed along the sides of a road to avoid having vehicles leave the road.
Safety devices
Addition, system or mechanism available to people to promote safety of life, health and wellbeing during their trips.
Safety helmet
Protective equipment designed to protect the user’s head, commonly used by motorcyclists.
School zone
Area close to a school that requires extra caution and for which special road safety measures are established.
Seatbelt
Passive safety device used in vehicles to protect the driver and passengers in case of a road accident.
Security perimeter
Free space that must be left around an object, like a parked vehicle, to ensure the safety of other roadway users.
Security zone
Designated area where pedestrians or vehicles are protected from other vehicles in motion, often using physical barriers.
Self-driving vehicle
Vehicle capable of driving and navigating on its own without human intervention.
Self-explanatory highways
Approach to highway planning and design that seeks to provide drivers with information that is clear and easy to follow to help them understand and safely navigate the highway. The goal is for drivers to be able to understand and follow the highway signs and markings on their own, without the need for external resources. Example, use of vertical and horizontal signage and traffic markings, additional lighting and reflective signs, landscaping, among others.
Service road
Secondary highway designed to provide service to the main highway.
Shocks
Part of a vehicle’s suspension that absorbs the impact and vibrations of the road.
Shoulder
Space along the side of a highway or road used for vehicles to stop in case of emergency.
Sidewalk
Space used for transit of pedestrians, usually on the side of the street.
Signage
Comprehensive set of devices, markings and signs that indicate the geometry of the roads, their boundaries, maximum speeds, traffic direction, as well as their forks, intersections, and level crossings, guaranteeing continual appropriate visibility.
Solid line
Roadway markings that indicate that passing or changing lanes is not permitted in that section of the highway.
Speed bump
Objects built on the road to reduce the speed of vehicles, as well as sound bands or jumps.
Speed limit
Maximum speed permitted by law for driving on a public road.
Speed management
Set of measures and actions aimed at reducing traffic accidents through control and regulation of vehicle speed on public roads. These measures may include the implementation of speed limits, the use of speed radars and control systems, and awareness campaigns about the importance of respecting speed limits.
Sustainable mobility
A mode of transport that seeks to reduce the environmental and social impact of travel, fostering the use of more efficient and less polluting methods of transportation. Includes the use of sustainable methods of transport like bicycles and public transport, and the promotion of safe driving practices.
Systemic approach
Approach that addresses mobility as a whole on a comprehensive basis, in which a series of coordinated and interconnected elements interact.
Technical vehicle inspection
Periodic review that must be performed to vehicles to verify their mechanical, electrical and safety condition, and to ensure they comply with the requirements to drive on the public roadway.
Toll
Fee that must be paid to drive on a road or highway in order to fund its maintenance and improvement.
Toll evasion
Act of going through a toll collection point without paying the corresponding fee.
Towing service
Service responsible for removing vehicles that are stranded or have been in an accident on the public roadway.
Traffic circle
Circular intersection where the vehicles driving around it have the right-of-way over those that want to access it.
Traffic claim
Any event, fact, accident or incident on the public roadway arising from the transit of vehicles or people, involving at least one vehicle and that causes death or injuries, including those causing a disability, or physical damages, that are preventable and the adverse effects of which can be lessened.
Traffic control device
Set of signs, markings, various devices and other elements placed on roadways to prevent, regulate and guide the flow of pedestrians and vehicles that meet the universal design criteria, guaranteeing appropriate visibility at all times.
Traffic light
Device that regulates the traffic of vehicles and pedestrians at intersections on the public roadway through the use of lighted signs.
Traffic light system
Road signage system that uses colored lights to regulate traffic at intersections and other critical points on the public roadway.
Traffic management
Set of measures and strategies implemented by the authorities to regulate and control traffic flow on public roads in order to guarantee user safety and improve mobility.
Traffic radar
Device used to detect the speed of vehicles.
Traffic regulations
Set of standards and legal provisions that regulate the movement of vehicles, pedestrians and other users on public roadways. The traffic regulations establish the rights and obligations of roadway users, and establish penalties for violation of such regulations.
Traffic sign
Device that communicates information to public roadway users about circulation rules, restrictions or directions.
Trip
Travel by a person from an origin point to a pre-established destination with a specific objective in mind for the mobility.
Two way
Highway or street that allows transit of vehicles in both directions.
Universal design
Understood to be the design of products, environments, programs and services related to mobility and road safety, which can be used by everyone, to the greatest extent possible, without need for adaptation or specialized design. Universal design shall not exclude technical assistance for specific groups of people with disabilities as they so require.
Vehicle safety
Measures focused on the performance and protection offered by a motorized vehicle to passengers and users of a roadway against the risk of death or serious injury in the event of a traffic incident.
Vehicle safety devices
Safety devices installed in vehicles—like seatbelts and airbags—that protect the occupants in case of an accident.
Visibility
Ability of drivers to see clearly and anticipate obstacles on the pubic roadway, and for them to be seen by the other users.
Vulnerable groups
Population facing obstacles to exercise their right to safe mobility as a result of inequality, such as people with lower income, indigenous persons, people who are disabled, people who are pregnant, senior citizens, the LGBTTTIQ community, as well as women, children and teens, and other people who, due to their specific circumstances, are facing some type of exclusion.
Vulnerable users
Children under the age of twelve, senior citizens and people with limited mobility, users of two- or three-wheeled vehicles.
Yield
Traffic sign that indicates to the driver that they must cede the right-of-way to other vehicles at an intersection.
