LOWERING THE SPEED LIMIT IN TAMPERE CITY CENTRE - EFFECTS ON SPEEDS AND PUBLIC OPINION

In the fall of 1998 the speed limit in Tampere city centre was lowered from 50 to 40 km/h. No physical measures were implemented at the time. The objective was to determine the effects of the speed limit change on speed and public opinion. The mean speed of passenger cars was reduced after lowering the speed limit by 2.8 km/h (95% confidence interval -2.9...-2.7 km/h) and 85% speeds (speeds exceeded by 15% of drivers) by 3.4 km/h. No effects wereobserved in the town of Nokia, where speed measurements were performed for comparison. The percentage of speeding drivers increased by 27% units. The percentage of speeding drivers was 56% after lowering the speed limit to 40 km/h. Travel speeds were reduced overall by 2-3 km/h, but the greatest reductions were as much as 9 km/h. Lowering of the speed limit systematically cut the highest travel speeds. It was estimated that the reduction in speed cut the level of personal injury accidents by about 10% and the death risk by 30% in Tampere city centre. Three fourths of the city centre residents who answered the questionnaire considered lowering of the speed limit a good decision. Yet almost 60% of the respondents still considered speeding a problem and about half of the respondents estimated that inadequate measures were taken to improve traffic safety. Especially the safety of cyclists, moped drivers and children were considered at risk. Comparing women with men, persons aged over 60 with younger ones, vulnerable road users with car drivers, and drivers who drove less with those who drove more, showed that in each case the former had adopted a more positive attitude towards the lower speed limits and the measures to support them. When asked about the potential of various measures to improve traffic safety, police enforcement and improved road markings were considered most important. Police enforcement was also considered most acceptable. In road user interviews all road user groups, except taxi drivers, considered lowering of the speed limit a good decision. About half of the drivers, pedestrians and cyclists felt that driving speeds should still be reduced by about 10 km/h. According to pedestrians and cyclists, speeding and lack of safety for cyclists were the greatest problems. Some criticism was expressed by taxi drivers concerning traffic arrangements in the central marketplace and traffic lights.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9517235488
• Corporate Authors:

  Ministry of Transport and Communications

  ETELAESPLANADI 16-18
  HELSINKI,   Finland  FIN-00131
• Authors:
  • RANTA, S
  • KARKI, O
• Publication Date: 1999

Language

• Finnish

Media Info

• Pagination: 148 p.
• Serial:
  • REPORTS AND MEMORANDA OF THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNCATIONS
  • Volume: B
  • Issue Number: 26/1999
  • Publisher: Ministry of Transport and Communications
  • ISSN: 1237-7449

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Automobiles; Speed; Speed limits; Urban areas
• Geographic Terms: Finland
• ITRD Terms: 2267: Attitude (psychol); 1243: Car; 8035: Finland; 5408: Speed; 624: Speed limit; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Law; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00920414
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
• ISBN: 951-723-548-8
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Mar 6 2002 12:00AM