Speed management & setting speed limits amy stebbing

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