Citation

Lay MG. Road Transp. Res. 2006; 15(4): 79-96.

Affiliation

RACV (The Victorian Automobile Club)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Australian Road Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The paper addresses the core question 'Why invest in road research?' It points out that road research covers a wide range of topics, serves a wide range of customers, and provides a wide variety of benefits. It notes that much road infrastructure is old and will last beyond a human lifetime, that the technology is relatively simple, that the users are error-prone, and that the costs and benefits are rarely linked. The last point means that it is rarely possible to rely on market forces to determine research priorities. The paper gives the following answers to the core question. (A) Past benefits have justified expenditure, with benefit/cost ratios (BCRs) of 15 or more. (B) Role models conduct road research. (C) Some of the resources devoted to roads should be used to research them. (D) Generally, there are known benefits from conducting research. (E) There are clear research needs. (F) Past road research has been successful. (G) Research is proper in uncertain times. (H) Recent research experience has been good. The paper concludes that there is a continuing need for road research as the road transport market alters, road usage increases and technology changes. It notes that the high research BCRs are due to the financial leverage obtained via the ultimate road users, and that research programs are often able to be retrospectively justified by the occasional 'big winner' project generating enormous returns.