speed management & setting speed limits amy stebbing
TRANSCRIPT
Amy Stebbing Senior Road Safety Engineer
Speed Management and Setting Speed Limits 1 June 2012
Speed Limits and Speed Management
1. The Safe System
2. Speed and the Safe System
3. Speed zoning policy and practice
4. Default speed limits
5. Other speed limits
6. Speed limit approvals
7. Speed Limits Advisory Group
Speed Limits and Speed Management
1. The Safe System
The Safe System
What is the Safe System?
The Safe System approach to road safety is based on the fact that humans are likely to make mistakes and that crashes will happen
The objective is to design and manage the system (vehicles, road infrastructure and road users) to reduce the likelihood of crashes
But, when a crash occurs, the chances of serious injury or death should be minimal
Recognises that there are limits to the forces that the human body can withstand
Speed Limits and Speed Management
1. The Safe System
2. Speed and the Safe System
Speed and the Safe System
Impact speed and human tolerances to forces
< 30 km/h for vehicle occupants in side impact
Speed and the Safe System
Impact speed and human tolerances to forces
< 40 km/h pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists
Speed and the Safe System
Impact speed and human tolerances to forces
< 50km/h for vehicle occupants in side impact crashes with other vehicles
Speed and the Safe System
Impact speed and human tolerances to forces
< 70-80 km/h for vehicle occupants in head on crashes
Speed Limits and Speed Management
1. The Safe System
2. Speed and the Safe System
3. Speed zoning policy and practice
Speed Zoning Policy and Practice
VicRoads Traffic Engineering Manual – Volume 1 Traffic Management, Chapter 7: Speed Zoning Guidelines
Available on VicRoads website at: www.vicroads.vic.gov.au and enter “Traffic Engineering Manual” into the search function
Speed Zoning Policy and Practice
Ch. 7 of TEM 1 covers most situations but decisions on speed limits should consider all factors on a site by site basis.
Necessary to apply sound safety principles and engineering judgment.
The approach to speed management is to balance the community’s desire for mobility with safety
Speed management is a key component of the Safe System approach which provides the guiding principle for road safety in Victoria
Speed Limits and Speed Management
1. The Safe System
2. Speed and the Safe System
3. Speed zoning policy and practice
4. Default speed limits
Default Speed Limits
Applies to roads in urban or built-up areas
Other speed limits in urban areas must be signed
50
Default Speed Limits
Applies on rural roads unless signed otherwise
100
Speed Limits and Speed Management
1. The Safe System
2. Speed and the Safe System
3. Speed zoning policy and practice
4. Default speed limits
5. Other speed limits
Speed Limits on Arterial Roads
Commonly used on arterial roads in urban areas
Also used on some rural arterial roads
60 70 80
Motorways
Motorways in Melbourne usually have a speed limit of 100 km/h
Lower speed limits are often used during busy times to manage traffic flow and safety
Speed limits are also reduced during roadworks and to manage incidents
High Standard Rural Roads
Used on rural freeways and other high standard rural roads
Usually divided carriageways without access points and with low crash history
110
Pedestrian Activity Areas
40 km/h speed limits are used in strip shopping centres in metropolitan areas
These operate during times of high pedestrian activity and use electronic variable signs
In country town centres, 50 km/h speed limits are used
School Speed Zones
Lower speed limits are used near schools at times when students are entering and leaving the school
Electronic signs are used on roads with high speeds and high traffic volumes
40km/h Local Areas
Local residential areas only, bound by main arterial roads
Apply to roads that also have traffic calming infrastructure to support the lower speed limit – for example, speed humps and narrow lane widths
Signing must be erected at each entry to and exit from the area
Shared Zones
Pedestrians and traffic mix, with pedestrians having priority
High pedestrian use and very low traffic volumes
Apply to roads that also have traffic calming infrastructure to support the lower speed limit – for example, speed humps and narrow lane widths
Signing must be erected at each entry to and exit from the area
Speed Limits and Speed Management
1. The Safe System
2. Speed and the Safe System
3. Speed zoning policy and practice
4. Default speed limits
5. Other speed limits
6. Speed limit approvals
Speed Limit Approvals
All speed limits in Victoria are assessed by VicRoads
Any changes to existing speed limits are approved (or denied) by VicRoads
Any speed limit requests for new roads are approved by VicRoads
Speed Limits and Speed Management
1. The Safe System
2. Speed and the Safe System
3. Speed zoning policy and practice
4. Default speed limits
5. Other speed limits
6. Speed limit approvals
7. Speed Limits Advisory Group
Speed Limits Advisory Group
The Speed Limits Advisory Group is a committee made up of major road safety stakeholders, including
– VicRoads
– Transport Accident Commission
– Victoria Police
– Department of Justice
– Royal Automobile Club Victoria
– ARRB Group
– MUARC Accident Research Centre
Speed Management
Speed limits
– Signs
– Infrastructure
– Balance safety and mobility
– Ensure speed limits are credible (believable), consistent, clear and conspicuous
Speed enforcement
– Victoria Police
Education
– VicRoads, Victoria Police, schools
Conclusion