Video recording of traffic accidents - a methodological experiment in Helsinki in the 1990's

In the early 1990s an effort was undertaken to improve the safety in the city of Helsinki. Two signal-controlled crossings were continuously videoed. When an accident was reported to the alarm center, the tape was taken to detailed inspection. From the video recordings, the positions of the participants were precisely known, and their speeds before and at the moment of collision could be calculated. Also information on vehicles not directly involved into the accident could be collected. The main result was the primary importance of the speeds of free flowing vehicles. A reduction of the speeds effects the free, most dangerous vehicles, whereas the effect on travel times for the majority in queues on congested streets in central areas is very small. Based on accident tapes and the stories of victims it was also concluded that pedestrians run over when walking or running against red light did not pay any attention to the approaching vehicle. This gave a pessimistic outlook on efforts to reduce pedestrian accidents by improving pedestrian behaviour. 1992 and 1996 the speed limit on Kaivokatu street, Helsinki, with 30.000 vehicles and 100.000 crossing pedestrians was reduced to finally 30 km/h. 2008 automatic speed enforcement cameras were installed. The share of the highest speeds and the number of accidents with injury have been reduced significantly. The experiment shows that it is easy and cheap to collect evidence from one's own city instead of relying on foreign results.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9783781218963
• Authors:
  • Pasanen, E
  • Stroemmer, H
• Publication Date: 2013-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: p33
• Monograph Title: Fahrunsicherheit, Unfallvermeidung, Unfallrekonstruktion, Rehabilitation Fahreignung. 8. Gemeinsames Symposium der Deutschen Gesellschaft fuer Verkehrspsychologie e.V. (DGVP) und Deutschen Gesellschaft fuer Verkehrsmedizin e.V. (DGVM) am 7. und 8. September 2012 in Potsdam
• Serial:
  • Schriftenreihe Fahreignung
  • Publisher: Kirschbaum Verlag

Subject/Index Terms

• ITRD Terms: 1661: Accident prevention; 1631: Collision; 8525: Conference; 1667: Crossing the road; 8035: Finland; 8125: Germany; 1733: Pedestrian; 1621: Reconstruction (accid); 1665: Safety; 9101: Surveillance; 6949: Television; 311: Town centre; 1255: Vehicle
• Subject Areas: I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01541282
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen (BASt)
• ISBN: 978-3-7812-1896-3
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Oct 21 2014 8:53AM