Speed is a contributory factor in about one third of all road accidents. In association with TRL, studio | REAL was commissioned by the Highways Agency to identify urban design features that influence driver speed and to produce design guidance for higher order roads that promotes appropriate driver behaviour. Drivers often travel at what they perceive to be a safe or reasonable speed, despite the signed limit. An overall reduction in speed reduces both the severity and number of accidents and has wider environmental and social benefits. Many existing engineering and signage measures for traffic calming are ineffective.
Research undertaken by studio | REAL and TRL indicates driver behaviour is influenced by the wider environment and is not confined to the highway boundary. studio | REAL advocate an approach to design which utilises the design of the road layout, townscape and landscape features to reduce the disparity between the legal speed limit and the driver’s perceived safe limit. This advice specifically advocates reinforcing the rural and urban characteristics of the road environment to make it clear what speed is appropriate. Reducing speed through improvements to the physical environment also creates more attractive, liveable streets and spaces.
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