Abstract

The subject of the Authors' analyses is a group of non-physical speed management measures. How effective they are depends primarily on how willing drivers are to accept restrictions. Social and cultural factors play a major role. The effectiveness of these measures is not clear and requires further research. The authors conducted such research and evaluated the effects of nonphysical speed management measures on driver behaviour and road safety. Changes in behaviour were evaluated by examining speed parameters and how they changed depending on the measure. When evaluating the effects of selected speed management measures on road safety, the analysis looked at crashes using the simple "before" and "after" method with trend control. The so called "power model" was also used for the evaluation with some of its parameters modified. The research covered: local speed limits, area speed limits TEMPO 20 and TEMPO 30, sections with traffic calming measures and sections with additional speed control signs. Empirical speed tests were conducted at the total of 88 test sites on regional roads. The crash data analysis covered 152 test sites. The research helped to estimate speed reductions caused by the particular speed management measures. Depending on the measure the average speed went down by 6.8-16.3%. The paper includes the results of evaluations studying the effects of selected speed management measures on the crashes. The measures were found to be very effective for serious injury and fatality crashes. Based on speed and crash data coefficients of "power model" were evaluated The effects of the speed management measures under analysis on road safety are strongly linked to local conditions.

Citations

Authors (4)