MobilisingTransport Research into Speed Management

ShLOW! Show Me How Slow

Introduction to ETSC

• 42 organisations from across Europe under one unique umbrella promoting science-based transport safety measures at EU level.

• More then 200 experts contributing to ETSC’s Reviews, Policy Papers, Newsletters, Positions, Lectures, Press Releases, Year Books, etc.

• The European Commission, member organisations, member states and corporate sponsors are funding ETSC’s work.

• 10 Secretariat staff members work to insert the knowledge of ETSC members and experts into EU transport safety policy-making.

A science-based approach to road safety policy

Why ShLOW?EU ambition: road safety and CO2 Targets •EU target to cut by 50% yearly road deathsbetween 2001 and 2010

European Commission review 2006 has shown that the EU is off target!

• To reduce by 20% green house gas emissions by 2020 (compared to 1990).

The EU is off Target• About 43,000 people were killed in road traffic collisions in the European

Union in 2007. for the first time since the adoption of the EU target, 2007 saw hardly any reduction compared with the previous year. If recent trends continue, the European Union will reach its target only in 2017.

• While the EU-25 reduced overall emissions of greenhouse gases by almost 5% between 1990 and 2004, CO2 emissions from road transport rose by 26% (OECD/ECMT, 2007). Today road transport is by far the largest transport mode contributing to CO2 emissions.

The EU Not Reaching its Road Safety target!

Speed Management and road safety

Road Safety: The relation between speed and crash rates is not linear but exponential…as speed increases the crash rate and injury outcome increases much faster than the increase in speed.

Increase in Speed = More Accidents

Quite simply because: as speed increase so do emergency stopping time/distance

Increase in Speed = Worst Accident Outcome

Different crash types:

(Green = unprotected; blue = side impact; red = head on).

Speed Management and climate change

Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are in great part a function of speed. Many studies recognise compliance with speed limits as a very effective carbon abatement policy.

e.g.: French ‘Plan Climat’

Speed Management and climate change

relationship between speedenforcement and CO2 reduction(Anable et al., 2006)

Current Situation: Speed

•According to most estimates Speeding contributes to a much as one third of all fatal accidents.

• The role of ‘minor’ Speeding offences is largely underestimated. Even minor increases have great consequences.

• Managing driving speeds is a very effective carbon abatement policy in terms of climate impact and cost effectiveness.

.....Yet speeding is extremely widespread (!):

• At any one moment, on any given European road, 50% of drivers exceed legal speed limits. (OECD 2006 Estimation)

Hence: Shlow – Show me How Slow

A European Project to take action against speeding on our roads through the work of students!

www.Shlow.eu

What is ShLOW?

A 2 year panEuropean project funded by the Research Directorate General of the European Commission under the 7th Research Framework Programme.

•10 Participating countries

•Coordinated by ETSC with13 road safety organisations

How does ‘ShLOW!’ Work?

4 Phases•Lecture: University Lecture Tour to recruit Students

•Students apply Online to take part in ShLOW

•Camp: Selected students are invited to a free Speed Managment Training Course in Brussels: the ShLOW Camp (April 2009).

•Challenge: after returning to their home country students carry a speed managment activity with the support of ETSC and its partners

•The Ceremony: The Best Students receive an Award

What should the Students do?

• Run a local speed management activity/action in their home country.

• The best students will be the one who manage to convince their local authority or a company (e.g. Fleet operator such as taxi/bus/goods transport company) to implement a speed managment measure.

How? Knowledge gathered at the ShLOW CAMP

Support given by ETSC/ ShLOW Partners

What sort of Action???

• A lot can be done!!

What sort of Action???

• Speed Management can be addressed in many ways, at many levels of society, including:

- Vehicle Technology: Intelligent Speed Assistance, adaptive cruise control, nonlinear speedometers,

- Road Infrastructure: traffic calming (speed humps; chicanes etc.), speed feedback signs

- Enforcement: speed cameras, community speedwatch

- Education/Campaigning: posters, films, roadside signs, education in school, speed awareness course for professional drivers and recidivists...

What sort of Action???

While some actions are expensive and are taken at the highest decision level, many other actions have a low cost and can be implemented at the local level or voluntarily by the private sector. It is this sort of action that studenst should focus on.

Why should I Apply? • An opportunity today: to use your concrete

knowledge to solve a serious problem• An opportunity for the future: the ShLOW Camp can

be a significant gateway for future career opportunities.• An opportunity to learn: free training on both

technical safety matters and on ‘road safety campaign’ from international experts.

• An opportunity to travel and meet new people• An opportunity to win: You will receive a substantial

award if you do your very best in ShLOW!

How can I Apply?

• Online: go to www.Shlow.eu

• Before 28 February 2009

The form includes:• Personal details• Motivation• Speed managment

activity idea (if you have one)