Improving compliance and acceptance of safer speeds

The Safe System approach adopted in New Zealand and Australia includes a move towards safer speeds. Safer speeds are those where the probability of a serious or fatal crash for the driver and other road users is low if a crash was to occur. In most cases this means lower speeds, especially in areas with high volumes of active (or vulnerable) road users. However many drivers like to travel at high speeds and there are concerns that such drivers will not accept the need for lower speeds. The NZ Transport Agency has commissioned research to better understand the level of compliance and acceptance of reduced speed limits in New Zealand. The research conducted examines information from a number of urban and rural speed limit changes around the country. The before and after compliance assessment records the change in mean speed, 85%ile speeds and speed variance for each route or area. A web survey also helps us to understand driver acceptance of reduced speed limits. This survey explores driver attitudes to reduced speeds and specifically their views on the appropriate speed limit in different urban and rural environments. Driver speed choice is often linked to their perceived level of crash risk. Results are presented from a separate study by the NZ Automobile Association showing the link between perceived risk, perceived safe speed and actual speed choice on a rural State Highway.

• Record URL:
  http://arrbknowledge.com
• Authors:
  • Turner, S
  • Khoo, J
  • Logan, D
• Conference:
  • ARRB Conference, 26th, 2014, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
• Publication Date: 2014-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 13p
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: 1.4

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Before and after studies; Behavior; Compliance; Computers; Drivers; Public opinion; Risk; Risk management; Speed limits; Surveys
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (road users)
• Geographic Terms: New Zealand
• ATRI Terms: Attitude; Before and after study; Compliance; Driver behaviour; Online Survey; Public opinion; Risk; Speed limit
• ITRD Terms: 2267: Attitude (psychol); 9148: Before and after study
• Subject Areas: Society; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01547996
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Dec 17 2014 10:49AM