AAA's Dinh-Zarr sees traffic safety as a public health issue. "It's the big challenge for the 21st century,"

she says. "We must view crashes as deadly diseases and work to eradicate them before they take hold.

The safety of our roads themselves remains the missing piece of our vaccine."

Curing Sick Roads

What can you do to fix dangerous roads in your area? AAA has compiled this

list of the top-ten improvements to help turn killer roads into safer roads.

When you see hazardous conditions, complain. Take pictures of the problem

and send them to your highway department or the local agency responsible for

your roads. Be specific in what you want, but remember that the experts may

have a better fix for the problem. If you get rebuffed, contact local

newspapers or TV stations or your local AAA chapter.

1. Larger and simpler road signs, in highly reflective materials.

2. Crosswalks with reflective pavement markings, and countdown signals to

help pedestrians know if they have enough time to cross.

3. Left-turn lanes.

4. Larger stop signs.

5. Better lighting on both highways and city streets.

6. Brighter pavement markings for lanes and road edges.

7. Larger traffic-signal heads and "all red" periods to allow a margin of error at

intersections.

8. Large and clear signs well ahead of entrance and exit ramps on highways.

9. Clearly marked work zones.

10. Changeable message signs to inform drivers of new road conditions and

situations.