Abstract
There is considerable safety potential in ensuring that motorists respect the speed limits. High speeds increase the number and severity of accidents. Technological development over the last 20 years has enabled the development of systems that allow automatic speed control. The first generation of automatic speed control was point-based, but in recent years a potentially more effective alternative automatic speed control method has been introduced. This method is based upon records of drivers’ average travel speed over selected sections of the road and is normally called average speed control or section control. This article discusses the different methods for automatic speed control and presents an evaluation of the safety effects of average speed control, documented through changes in speed levels and accidents before and after the implementation of average speed control at selected sites in the UK. The study demonstrates that the introduction of average speed control results in statistically significant and substantial reductions both in speed and in number of accidents. The evaluation indicates that average speed control has a higher safety effect than point-based automatic speed control.
Highlights
It is well documented that there is a very strong correlation between vehicle speed and the number of fatalities and injuries in traffic [1]
A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon in the East of England has been the subject of a separate study, as it is possible to study the safety effects associated with the transition from Fixed Speed Cameras (FSC) to Average Speed Control (ASC) on this location
Speed is reduced by 7.5%, and accident analyses indicate reductions in the number of serious injury accidents of 9% to 41%
Summary
It is well documented that there is a very strong correlation between vehicle speed and the number of fatalities and injuries in traffic [1]. 2) Cars can be equipped with Intelligent Speed Adaptation systems which in various ways alert the driver if the speed limit is exceeded [4] [5]. 3) Different types of campaigns can be implemented in order to motivate drivers to comply with speed limits [6]. 4) drivers’ speed can be controlled by enforcement This type of control can be implemented as part of normal police controls/roadside checks, or by automatic speed control [7]. We have implemented a study of the safety effect of ASC
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have