THE SYSTEM: KEY TO FUTURE LOW LOSS OPERATIONS

The National Transportation Safety Board study, Compatibility of Standards for Drivers, Vehicles, and Highways, points out that the many standards which might define integrated highway transportation systems have often been incompatible. The result is that the standards tended to block conceptualization of system problems in highway operation and safety. Compatible standards involving many national organizations are needed to facilitate the evolution of integrated highway transportation systems.

Safety efforts are often based upon corrections of individual causes of accidents, and problems are visualized separately. Better results have been achieved where the system could be visualized and disciplined as a whole. Efficiency is as great a goal as safety. SAE, as an engineering organization, could take a leadership role in creating compatible system-oriented standards.