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Speed Management in a TowardZ D h F k

A New Angle on Speed

Zero Deaths Framework

Lifesavers NashvilleApril 29, 2014

Libby ThomasSenior Research Associate

Main Talking PointsWhat has happened to speed limits as a safetymeasureDifferent stakeholders have differentneeds/perspectives about SpeedWhat can we learn from Toward Zero deathsjurisdictionsInstitutionalizing good practicesFraming the Message

Focus on Speed Management:Best/Good Practice

Appropriate (sometimes LOWER) speed limits – suitedto land uses, road designs, peopleInform the driverRoad designs and enforcement make limits credibleEnforcement PERCEPTIONPenalties that support enforcement – consistency,more than intensityPublicityPrioritize allocation of resources

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EstoniaOECD

AustriaFranceAustralia

Israel

IcelandNetherlandsUnited Kingdom

Sw eden

Luxembourg

Germany

Japan

Sw itzerlandFinlandDenmark

Norw ay

Ireland

Spain

How is the US faringin reducing

speeding relatedcrashes andmortality?

id

Source: OECD Health Data 2011; ISGBE (2011).

Czech RepublicSlovak Republic

KoreaGreece

Mexico

New Zealand

Russian Fed.

United StatesPoland

Hungary

Chile

PortugalSlovenia

Belgium

Canada

Italy

Transport accidentmortality rates, 2009(or nearest year)

Change intransportaccidentmortality

rates, 19952009 *

*Or nearest year.Source: OECD Health Data

2011; IS-GBE (2011).

Good Science andGood Policy

Identify the problemsIdentify andprioritizing effectivestrategiesstrategiesCoordinate,communicateWill to act is the mostdifficult

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From Urban

To Rural

Purpose of Speed Limits

to promote highway safety – traditionally byestablishing maximum safe speed under favorableconditions

(NCHRP, 2009). Enforcement, engineering speedmanagement strategies are both crucial to, and dependon, safety of speed limits established.

Speed Limits – Is this Paradigm still valid?

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Crash Causes

Driver states, ability,performanceVehicle conditionRoadwayRoadwayEnvironment

Policy / SocietyCulture

Figure 1 from Rumar,1985 and Lum and Reagan, 1995 In White Paper No. 6– “Safer Infrastructure” by P. Jovanis and E. Donnell

What’s wrong with the status quo?Speed Limit

55mph

Speed Limit

35mph

Planning & Design Policies andGuidelines

Existing road engineering manuals and design guides –safety implied by designing to recommendationsGuidance urging designers to use higher design speedsSpeed limits / intended operating speeds often anSpeed limits / intended operating speeds often anafterthought

White Papers from “Toward Zero Deaths: A National Strategy on Highway Safety: No. 6– Safer Infrastructure” by Paul Jovanis and Eric Donnell

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Enforcement and Publicity

Insufficient enforcement resourcesPublicity /communications not used enough orwell

Speed enforcementCourtsOperating speeds over timeSpeeding related fatalities/fatality percentageUrban areas, community livabilityResidents farmers cyclists drivers in rural areasResidents, farmers, cyclists, drivers in rural areas

Nationwide Speeding related Fatalities

Purpose of Speed Limits

to promote highway safety – traditionally byestablishing maximum safe speed under favorableconditions

Speed Limits – Is this Paradigm still valid?

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What Can be DoneWhat Can be Done

Humans are Fallible Safe System (Netherlands, Australia)Vision Zero (Sweden, NYC)Making Roads Safer (U.K.)T d Z D th (U S & t t )Toward Zero Deaths (U.S. & many states)

Safer CountriesNew allocation of responsibilityDesigners of system are responsibleUsers are responsible for following rules of useBut if user fails, system must reduce harmut use a s, syste ust educe a

And,Managing speed is a key principle

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Setting Speed Limits

From Gerry Forbes, INTUS Road Safety Engineering Inc. presentation for FHWA

If Limits Are Not Safe or Credible

What needs to be changed?What can be changed (to improve safety)?The limitThe road designEnforcementVehiclesDrivers

Fewer Different Limits

May be more comprehensible to driversMay reduce confusionMay help with thinking about design

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Systematic Process

Network screening orData Driven Approach to Crime and TrafficSafety (DDACTS)i iDiagnosis

Identify alternate treatmentsPrioritize most cost effective

Systematic – Screen and Rank SafetyIssues

Speed Study + Field Diagnosis

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What are thesolutions?

Proactive Process

Plan for desired speedIntegrate with land use, other transportplans, user needsInstitutionalize speed managing designsInstitutionalize cooperation

Importance of Broad Perspective

Who gets to decide speed limits?

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Comprehensive & Coordinated

Injury Prevention& Public Health Engineering

Law Enforcement

Research

Media and

Planning & Design

Communications

Safety Programs –State and National

Policy makersPrivate Partners

Policies

Lower limits in urban areas (with ASE enforcement):– 12% casualty (F & I) crashes (Victoria, AU)

Widely implemented road diets (NYC)– 70% injury and fatal crashes

Licensing – study current practices & effectsCriminal justice system approach to penalties whatare effectsReduce exposure – are there alternatives fortransportation

When are speed limits determined?

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Designs that Support LimitsRoundabouts (instead of two way stop orsignal): 66% to 90% Fatal and InjuryRoad diets: 19 to 47% Fatal and InjuryFewer lanes narrower lanes traffic calmingFewer lanes, narrower lanes, traffic calmingelements

Enforcement to Supplement

Population wide deterrence

http://www.seattle.gov/police/technology/speed_photo.htm

http://www.miami-police.org/traffic_enforcement.html

EnforcementMaximize deterrence through deploymentstrategies

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Enforcement Strategies

Automated enforcement: – 25% injury crashes (dep. onenvironment & implementation)Lower speeding tolerance (Victoria, AU): – 27% fatalcrashes; – 10% injury crashesImprove regular enforcement allocation

Judicial Coordination

Improve prosecution effectiveness; perhapsfocus on target corridors (tried, not proven)

Publicity

Increase the perception that speeders will becaught any where and any timeMedia publicity: – 10% fatal and injury(associated with Charlotte NC ASE program)(associated with Charlotte NC ASE program)

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Overcoming the BarriersOvercoming the Barriers

Communications

Framing the messageCredible messengers to target audiencesTake advantage of injury preventiont d i ti tpartners and communications experts

What is the Message

This…Nationwide Speeding Related Fatalities

Source: NHTSA Data Handbooks – prepared for each State

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U.S. Speeding related Fatalities by Year

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2012 Data

Speed or Alcohol

U.S. Non motorist Fatalities by Year

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Remember E = ½mv 2

Pedestrian Risk of Death and Impact Speed

Source: Tefft, B (2011). AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

Framing the Issue

• Or This• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eryfhMW

fl1U

Courtesy Dr. Bruce Corben

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Or Even This

What messages will beremembered?

This is why “we”are:Enforcing limitsChanging road designsLowering limitsAdding Automated Speed Enforcement

Can we do it here?Must decide value of future lives which generationwill pay for major changes in systemValue of a life versus mobility (perceived/real)

Current costs of crashes 2.4 times > cost of congestion

Need partnersNeed partnersHigh level champion is a plus

Some strategies (ASE) can pay for themselves ($)Practitioners can do a lot using evidence baseCMFs available to help make good decisions

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All Hands on Deck

Injury Prevention& Public Health Engineering

Law Enforcement

Research

Media and

Planning & Design

Communications

Safety Programs –State and National

Policy makersPrivate Partners

Take Away MessagesFrame the message aboutpublic safety/injury reductionPresent the message in a waythat resonates with the public(not how safety stakeholdersthink)Coordinate with partners/ useCoordinate with partners/ usetheir expertiseAddress current system usingsystematic processesBe proactive/plan for a futuresystem that manages speed,reduces harm

Questions

Libby Thomasthomas@hsrc.unc.edu

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Other Promising Strategies

Variable speed limitsRewards systems (e.g. lower insurance costs)Intelligent speed adaptation – vehicle limits

dspeedCompleting the Streets