DRIVER SPEED COMPLIANCE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA: A MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS

Most of the literature on the causes of speeding regards speeding as a feature of risky driver behavior or careless driving habits. Some research also refers to the importance of vehicle and road environment features. Studies in Australia and overseas have looked at these factors and their relationship to spot speeds or average speed using bivariate analysis. Few studies have looked at the relative contribution of factors to driver speed compliance. In this study, an ordinary least squares regression procedure estimates that 62% of the variation in vehicle speeds can be explained by variables related to the road environment and vehicles. It also appears that drivers use posted speed limits (PSLs) as targets rather than delimiters and choose vehicle speeds based on factors other than the desire to be noncompliant. Policymakers intent on improving road safety should consider the relevance of PSLs and enforceable speed limits. If maximum speeds are going to be applied to different road sections and to different vehicle types, then drivers need to be educated that speed limits are maximums and not targets. PSLs will also need to take into account road design. A change to variable speed limits, depending on time of day and day of week, should also be considered.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/29485010
• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier

  The Boulevard, Langford Lane
  Kidlington, Oxford  United Kingdom  OX5 1GB
• Authors:
  • Giles, M J
• Publication Date: 2004-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 227-235
• Serial:
  • Transport Policy
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0967-070X
  • Serial URL: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/issn/096707X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Compliance; Days; Driver education; Drivers; Highway design; Least squares method; Multivariate analysis; Periods of the day; Regression analysis; Speed limits; Speeding; Traffic law enforcement
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00976693
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 30 2004 12:00AM