Title: Do slow points control speed on urban local roads
Abstract: Speed has often been cited as a critical factor which affects safety on urban local roads. ARRB sent a questionnaire survey to 570 municipal engineers to obtain feedback on the issue of speed in urban local road design. Ninety-one per cent of the 221 respondents indicated more information on speed aspects of urban local road design was urgently required. A variety of geometric features are designed as slow points. This paper discusses the effectiveness of one of these, the 90 degree bend, and compares it with the design standards in the Australian Model Code for Residential Design (AMCORD) and the Victorian Code for Residential Development (VCODE). Speed surveys of eleven 90 degree bends in urban local roads were conducted in three municipalities in Melbourne. The Vehicle Data Acquisition System (VDAS) developed at ARRB was used for these surveys. Speeds at the 90 degree bend, the mid-point after the bend and 20 metres from the end slow point were obtained. The results showed that the 90 degree bends were more likely to result in vehicle speeds around 30 km/h rather than 20 km/h as suggested in the design codes. The implications for designers and traffic managers are discussed.
Publication Year: 1993
Publication Date: 1993-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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