To ensure the flow of vehicles during traffic management systems on UK roads, a combination of strategies and steps must be used to guide vehicle movement, mitigate congestion and enhance safety. The regulation of speed is also one of the most significant parts of a traffic management plan. It directly impacts road safety and the efficiency of the system – and so, in this edition of our blog, we’ll look at the importance of the balance between speed and safety.
1. The Importance of Traffic Management
Traffic management uses various techniques to control vehicle movement, optimise the flow of traffic and ensure all-round safety by reducing the chance of accidents. These techniques usually include a combination of road signs, signals, road markings and physical barriers, appropriately tailored to the situation.
2. Speed and Road Safety
One of the most critical aspects of traffic management is controlling the speed of vehicles going through or around the system. Excessive speed not only increases the severity of accidents but, from the driver’s perspective, also reduces the time available to react to unforeseen events. Therefore, managing vehicle speed is a fundamental strategy for enhancing road safety.
Figures produced by the UK government’s Department for Transport for 2022 show that speeding was a contributary factor in 8,269 road accidents, with approximately 1,700 people losing their lives in fatal accidents in the UK. This underscores the significant impact speed management can have on reducing road casualties. Lowering speed limits and enforcing them through various measures can prevent accidents.
3. Public Attitudes Towards Speeding
Public attitudes towards speeding play a significant role in the effectiveness of speed management strategies. Research by the road safety charity Brake reveals that many drivers in the UK have outdated and dangerous attitudes towards speeding in vehicles. Despite the clear risks associated with excess speed, some drivers still view it as a minor, even acceptable, offence. This type of thinking poses a huge challenge to traffic authorities who strive to enforce speed limits and promote safer driving.
A survey conducted by Brake found that 45% of drivers admitted to speeding on 30 mph roads, and 25% admitted to speeding on 60 mph rural roads. These statistics really highlight the need for continuous public awareness campaigns as a large-scale attempt to change attitudes towards speeding.
4. Strategies for Speed Management
There are various strategies which can be implemented around the issue of speeding and road safety. These include:
- Speed limits: Setting appropriate speed limits based on the type of road, the density of the traffic and the nature of the surrounding environment is absolutely crucial. Lower speed limits in residential areas and around schools help protect vulnerable road users (i.e. cyclists and pedestrians). Over recent years the Department for Transport has introduced 20mph speed limits in many residential areas to enhance safety.
- Speed cameras and enforcement: The use of cameras and regular enforcement of limits is designed to act as a speed deterrent to drivers. Automated systems ensure consistent enforcement, even when traffic police are not present to record speeds. Data from the RAC Foundation indicates that fixed speed cameras are effective, leading to a reduction in speeding and crash rates in areas that are monitored by them.
- Traffic calming: Physical measures such as speed bumps, chicanes and raised pedestrian crossings effectively reduce speeds in specific areas. They force drivers to slow down, therefore creating safer environments.
- Public campaigns: Raising awareness in the public about how dangerous speeding is, is essential. Campaigns aim to shift public attitudes and encourage drivers to stick rigidly within speed limits, whatever the road and situation. Effective campaigns have been shown to reduce speeding incidents, as demonstrated by the THINK! campaign, which has successfully raised awareness.
- Technology: Advances in technology like ISA systems (Intelligent Speed Assistance) can help manage vehicle speeds. These systems use GPS and speed limit data to warn drivers if they are exceeding the speed limit and, in some cases, they can even automatically adjust a vehicle’s speed.
Sources / References Used
- Dept for Transport data https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/reported-road-accidents-vehicles-and-casualties-tables-for-great-britain [Accessed 19 July 2024]
- RAC data https://www.racfoundation.org/research/safety/speed-camera-data-report [Accessed 19 July 2024]