Understanding Road Safety. A presentation to the Chislehurst Society by Roger Lawson April 2016 Alliance of British Drivers

Transcription

1 Understanding Road Safety A presentation to the Chislehurst Society by Roger Lawson April 2016 Alliance of British Drivers

2 Agenda Road Casualty Definitions. National Casualty Trends. The Major Contributions to Reducing Road Casualties. London and Bromley Casualty Trends. Risks of Different Road Users. The Causes of Accidents (Factors). The Cost of Accidents. How to Investigate a Road Safety Issue. Understanding Statistics. Measuring the Impact of Changes. Traffic Calming Techniques. Road Design, Traffic Advisory Leaflets, Regulations and Consultation. Common Misconceptions. How to Set Speed Limits. Measuring the Cost Effectiveness or Road Safety Initiatives. Bromley Council Road Safety Policies. How to Improve Road Safety in Chislehurst Should one Leave Road Safety to the Experts? Questions. 2

3 There are too many accidents! 3

4 Note that some of the material that follows was previously published by the Alliance of British Drivers 4

5 Definitions Killed Dead within 30 days. Seriously Injured Detained in hospital, fractures, burns etc. Slight Injury sprain, bruises, cuts, et al. KSI Killed or Seriously Injured Non personal injury accident Unreported How accurate is the data? 5

6 National Trend 6

7 Major Causes of Accidental Death 18 th Century: Horses 19 th Century: Canals and Trains travel is dangerous! 20 th Century: Roads London 2004: 2,000 accidental deaths but only 300 from road accidents (rest are falls, fires, poisonings, drownings, etc). London 2014: 127 Bromley 2014: First UK vehicle fatality 7

8 National Trend 2 It s Getting Safer Why? 8

9 THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO REDUCING ROAD CASUALTIES Safer vehicles, particularly as regards in car safety. Safer roads better engineered. Better medical care of victims. Education. More cars, fewer cyclists and pedestrians. Ageing population. 9

10 London Borough KSIs 10

11 Risks of Different Road Users 11

12 Risks of Different Road Users 2 12

13 Casualty Rates for Cyclists 13

14 The Causes of Accidents (Factors) From Stats19 Form Reports Source: Department for Transport 14

15 The Costs of Accidents RAS60001 (Source DfT) Average value of prevention per reported casualty and per reported road accident GB Accident/casualty type Cost per casualty Cost per accident Fatal 1,836,054 2,066,732 Serious 206, ,791 Slight 15,905 24,887 Based mainly on what people would be willing to pay to avoid it. 15

16 The Causes of Accidents (Factors) 2 Exceeding the speed limit? 16

17 How to Investigate a Road Safety Issue Obtain the accident data. Look at the Stats19 reports of accidents. Look at 17

18 CRASHMAP Chislehurst

19 EXAMPLE STATS19 DATA 19

20 UNDERSTANDING STATISTICS Road traffic accidents are random events. A few incidents may not be significant. Use statistics to check whether they are statistically significant Reversion to the mean is a problem when reacting to accidents. 20

21 MEASURING THE IMPACT OF CHANGES Use three year before and after data. Use KSI numbers preferably (there may be more slight injuries but reporting may vary). Beware of the incidental changes that affect the reported accidents. Take into account trends. Try to avoid short term effects. Beware of the Hawthorne Effect (Mayo) 21

22 TRAFFIC CALMING TECHNIQUES Speed humps/cushions/tables. Speed cameras. Signage 20 mph limits. Vehicle activated signs. Width restrictions.* Chicanes.* Pedestrian refuges. Mini roundabouts. Trees. Shared space. * Positively dangerous 22

23 ROAD DESIGN, TRAFFIC ADVISORY LEAFLETS, REGULATIONS AND CONSULTATION Department for Transport (DfT) for TALs on road design, signage, traffic calming, quiet lanes, setting speed limits, humps, etc. Regulations for road humps, speed limits, traffic signs (Traffic Signs Manual), the Highway Code, etc. Public consultation required for traffic calming, speed limits, parking, etc. 23

24 COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS Faster speeds mean more accidents. Putting up 20 mph speed limit signs will reduce traffic speeds and reduce accidents, or encourage walking and cycling. Speed cameras work. Speed humps work. Punishment works. * * Recommended reading: Road Accidents: Prevent or Punish by J.J.Leeming 24

25 HOW TO SET SPEED LIMITS DfT issue guidance. The best approach is to use the 85 th percentile of free flowing traffic. Reducing speed limits below that level is unlikely to have an impact on actual speeds or on accidents (Perry Street is a good example). 25

26 MEASURING COST EFFECTIVENESS Cash spent on road safety should be spent where it will save the most money (see cost of accidents previously). Schemes should have their benefits calculated and only those with the best cost/benefit ratio implemented. 26

27 BROMLEY COUNCIL ROAD SAFETY Dictated by the Mayor s Transport Strategy (MTS) and his Safe Streets for London road safety action plan, and of course by TfL supplying the money. Bromley Road Safety Plan (2008/9?) and Local Implementation Plans Used to be based on who shouted loudest or buggins turn now more focussed on accident locations and cost/benefits plus education. A policy for non vertical deflection traffic calming devices. 27

28 HOW TO IMPROVE ROAD SAFETY IN CHISLEHURST Look at the accident black spots. Road engineering. Education and behaviour (seat belts, young drivers, etc). Centre Common Road. High street (shared space?). War memorial junction? Education/encouragement. 28

29 Should one leave road safety to the experts? Probably. 29

30 Questions 30