There are several meanings of "dangerous".
I agree that the road itself is not able to likely to inflict injury. Although the user of a "dangerous road" is (more) likely to have injury inflicted upon them than had they used another road.
The problem, as I see it, is people are unwilling to accept that despite ONE meaning of "dangerous road" to be "it's not my fault, it's the road's", other equally valid meanings of the road exist, such as "this road is more likely to result in incompetent drivers crashing", as you described above.
Sure, argue that reporters should not use "dangerous road" due to its ambiguity. But, to state that "there is no such thing as a dangerous road" and then misquote Roadcraft as supporting that position... is disappointing, to say the least.
For example:
1. Attended or beset with danger; full of risk; perilous; hazardous; unsafe. 1913 Webster Our troops set forth to-morrow; stay with us; The ways are dangerous. --Shak. 1913 Webster
If "the ways" can be dangerous, so can roads.
Or:
From WordNet (r) 2.0 wn: dangerous adj 1: involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm; "a dangerous criminal"; "a dangerous bridge"; "unemployment reached dangerous proportions" syn: {unsafe} ant: {safe}
A bridge can be dangerous, although this meaning only implies that a road which is about to fall apart is dangerous.
-- David Taylor
