Capturing speeding behaviour in school zones using GPS technology

Speeding is a significant contributor to crash risk but is a particularly emotive issue in school zones. School zones have high levels of pedestrian activity and a relatively high proportion of children which makes it an especially important area for controlling speeding. However, most of the information we have about speeding comes from targeted police enforcement. There is little information on day-to-day speeding in school zones and even less information on how speeding behaviour in school zones varies across time. This paper examines speeding behaviour in school zones in Sydney, Australia using GPS, spatial, demographic and psychological data collected from 147 drivers over five weeks. The focus is on both the duration and magnitude of speeding and how differences relate to a number of driver, trip, vehicle and road characteristics. The main findings are that 23% of the distance travelled in school zones is above the speed limit, a rate higher than on urban arterials and residential streets. Furthermore, a small minority of drivers exceeded the speed limit for as much as half the distance travelled. These results demonstrate that despite efforts at reducing speeding in school zones and more generally, the practice remains very common. It appears that changing the road environment to force drivers to slow down may be more effective than information campaigns in changing drivers’ speeding behaviour.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/26087078
• Authors:
  • Ellison, A B
  • Greaves, S
  • Daniels, R
• Publication Date: 2013-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 30-42
• Serial:
  • Road and Transport Research
  • Volume: 22
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: ARRB
  • ISSN: 1037-5783

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Children; Drivers; Global Positioning System; Highway safety; Pedestrians; Schools; Speed control; Speeding
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (road users)
• Geographic Terms: Australia; Sydney (Australia)
• ATRI Terms: Driver behaviour; Global positioning system (GPS); Road safety; School; Speed control; Speeding
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01522083
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 15 2014 11:16AM