Speed Feedback Signs as a Tool to Manage Demand for Lower Residential Speeds
Citizens frequently express concerns regarding unsafe speed and look for ways to improve speed compliance. Speeding is a subjective term since a vehicle may be driving within the posted speed limit but may still be inappropriate for the road conditions. In an urban environment, speeding in residential areas, schools and playgrounds is a common concern. Although there are number of tools such as: posted speed limits, signage, electronic speed warning signs, enforcement etc. available to deter speeding drivers, addressing these concerns in a long lasting way has always been a great challenge to transportation professionals. Vehicle activated traffic calming signs have been used in Canada for over a decade. In Calgary, Speed Limit Observation and Warning System (SLOWS) and Interactive Speed Limit Observation and Warning System (iSLOWS) have been used in residential neighbourhoods, school & playground zones, construction zones, and special events such as Calgary Stampede to educate drivers against speeding. Although these two devices look strikingly similar in function, the process to assign these devices is completely different. SLOWS trailers are temporary and rotated on a 2-week/location basis following a citizen request whereas iSLOWS are permanently assigned to a location following a detailed traffic speed study. Amidst the increasing demand and popularity of these devices as tools to address speeding concerns in short term, long lasting impacts of these devices on educating drivers against speeding remain questionable. The City of Calgary conducted speed study at various locations in 2014 with the objective of evaluating the effectiveness of SLOWS trailers and iSLOWS in reducing speed. Speed display boards mounted on trailers were placed on roadside at various playground and non-playground zone locations for a period of 2 weeks. Speed data were collected before, during and after the installations using rubber road tubes connected to an automatic counter in the immediate vicinity of the speed display board. In case of iSLOWS, the speed data were collected in different trigger speeds to see the impacts of the speed limit warning sign to drivers. Results indicated that average speed during SLOWS trailer deployment reduced by 1.59 km/h to 5.64 km/h depending on the location, compared to before installation period. These results were significantly different at 95% confidence level at most locations. Results from iSLOWS study indicated that the level of speeding reduced when the trigger speed is lowered from 35 km/h to 30 km/h. However, the positive effect didn’t last long as the speed level was back to the before installation level after 4 weeks of iSLOWS installation.
- Record URL:
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Corporate Authors:
Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)
401-1111 Prince of Wales Drive
Ottawa, Ontario Canada -
Authors:
- Churchill, AE
- Mishra, S
- Conference:
- Publication Date: 2016
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Web
- Pagination: 1 PDF file, 604 KB, 14p.
- Monograph Title: TAC 2016: Efficient Transportation - Managing the Demand - 2016 Conference and Exhibition of the Transportation Association of Canada
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Case studies; Conferences; Driver information systems; Evaluation; Residential areas; Safety; Schools; Speeding; Traffic actuated controllers; Traffic restraint; Variable message signs
- Uncontrolled Terms: Vicinity
- Geographic Terms: Canada
- ITRD Terms: 8018: Canada; 8531: Case study; 8525: Conference; 8763: Driver information; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 307: Residential area; 1665: Safety; 101: School; 1841: Speeding; 633: Traffic restraint; 574: Variable message sign; 557: Vehicle actuated; 393: Vicinity
- Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01616342
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)
- Files: ITRD, TAC
- Created Date: Nov 15 2016 4:52PM