Md Tazul Islam1, Karim El-Basyouny. 1. University of Alberta, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, School of Mining & Petroleum Engineering, Markin/CNRL Natural Resources Engineering Facility, 9105 116th St, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2W2. mdtazul@ualberta.ca
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Speeding in residential areas is one aspect of a larger set of problems related to speeding and traffic safety. The problem affects the safety of vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists), specifically young children, and creates a sense of insecurity due to the risk of being involved in a vehicle crash and the seriousness of ensuing injuries. METHOD: This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of an integrated speed management plan to reduce vehicle speeds on residential roads. A before-after experimental design with comparison group was employed for the evaluation. To address the fact that the effectiveness of treatment might diminish with time, two sets of speed data were collected with one immediately after the treatment and another after four months. RESULTS: Statistical analysis reveals that the proposed plan can effectively reduce vehicle speeds and speed variances for both the short and long term. The effectiveness was found to vary with time of day and day of week. Overall, reductions of mean speed were estimated at 2.94 km/h (5.8%) and 2.26 km/h (4.5%) for the short term and long term, respectively. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: The study shows that an integrated speed management strategy, which combines education and enforcement activities with a low cost engineering treatment, can effectively reduce vehicle speeds on residential roads with a potential to improving road safety.
INTRODUCTION: Speeding in residential areas is one aspect of a larger set of problems related to speeding and traffic safety. The problem affects the safety of vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists), specifically young children, and creates a sense of insecurity due to the risk of being involved in a vehicle crash and the seriousness of ensuing injuries. METHOD: This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of an integrated speed management plan to reduce vehicle speeds on residential roads. A before-after experimental design with comparison group was employed for the evaluation. To address the fact that the effectiveness of treatment might diminish with time, two sets of speed data were collected with one immediately after the treatment and another after four months. RESULTS: Statistical analysis reveals that the proposed plan can effectively reduce vehicle speeds and speed variances for both the short and long term. The effectiveness was found to vary with time of day and day of week. Overall, reductions of mean speed were estimated at 2.94 km/h (5.8%) and 2.26 km/h (4.5%) for the short term and long term, respectively. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: The study shows that an integrated speed management strategy, which combines education and enforcement activities with a low cost engineering treatment, can effectively reduce vehicle speeds on residential roads with a potential to improving road safety.