Constructing Britain's road network : the scientific governance of British roads and their users, 1900-1963
This dissertation argues that the period 1900-1963 may be seen as one in which various models for the governance of roads and their users were developed. Demands for governance came from road campaigners and governmental bodies; these various groups called for, and attempted to implement, such governance in various ways. Of all these methods, scientific governance, via experiment and road network architecture, came decisively to supervene. The development of centralised and localised forms of governance, channelled through the civil and traffic engineering implemented by its County Surveyors, facilitated the state governance of Britain's road network and its users. The co-operation of road users was vital to the success of this state governance. Previously a law unto themselves, road users (most especially motorists) were self-governed by a gentlemanly code of tacit rules of the road. Overhauling the mindset and behaviour of road users first required the reform of the systematic structures of highway administration, along with legislative enforcement. This, however, was dependent upon the premise of central governance and thus government acceptance of roads as a national responsibility. This state of affairs
Cook, Justine Denise
D History General and Old World
Constructing Britain's road network : the scientific governance of British roads and their users, 1900-1963. This dissertation argues that the period 1900-1963 may be seen as one in which various models for the governance of roads and their users were developed. Demands for governance came from road campaigners and governmental bodies; these various groups called for, and attempted to implement, such governance in various ways. Of all these methods, scientific governance, via experiment and road network architecture, came decisively to supervene. The development of centralised and localised forms of governance, channelled through the civil and traffic engineering implemented by its County Surveyors, facilitated the state governance of Britain's road network and its users. The co-operation of road users was vital to the success of this state governance. Previously a law unto themselves, road users (most especially motorists) were self-governed by a gentlemanly code of tacit rules of the road. Overhauling the mindset and behaviour of road users first required the reform of the systematic structures of highway administration, along with legislative enforcement. This, however, was dependent upon the premise of central governance and thus government acceptance of roads as a national responsibility. This state of affairs
constructing britain road_network scientific governance british road user argues period may_see various model governance roads user develop governance come road campaigner governmental body various group call attempt_implement governance various_way method scientific governance via road_network architecture come decisively supervene development centralise localised form governance channel civil traffic engineering implement county facilitate state governance britain road_network user co_operation road user vital success state governance previously law road user especially self governed gentlemanly code tacit rule road mindset behaviour road user first require reform systematic structure administration along legislative enforcement however dependent_upon premise central governance thus government acceptance road national responsibility state_affair