comprehensive review of epidemiological studies

Older pedestrians and cyclists are vulnerable road users, comprising a substantial proportion of all road fatalities world-wide. Pedestrian fatalities constitute between 20 and 30 percent of road fatalities, while cyclist deaths range

Michigan University. He is coeditor for a national professional journal and is a guest editor for three other comparable journals. His areas of interest are in managing per-formance problems in business and industrial settings, and he serves as a consultant to organizations in this area. SIGURDUR OLI SIGURDSSON is a doctoral student in the Department of Psy-chology at Western Michigan University. He earned his master’s degree in industrial/

expected in early 2002 Australia has applied a 60 km/h default urban speed limit since 1974. In 1999, the Australian Transport Council approved the Australian Road Rules with 60 km/h as the default speed limit for built-up areas. From the early 1990s, individual jurisdictions have introduced lower urban speed limits in various trials. This report: • evaluates available data from Australian trials; reviews local and overseas research on the impact of lowering speed limits in urban areas; • analyses estimates of the costs and benefits of reducing the current national limit to 50 km/h. The report finds that a reduction in the national default urban speed limit to 50 km/h would result in fewer casualty crashes, property damage crashes and reduced air pollution. For comment speed, speed limits, Australian Road Rules, travel times, pedestrians, cyclists, crash reductions.

This report examines the possible safety benefits from driving in a manner that results in lower fuel consumption and emissions. It attempts to assess the potential of promoting additional motivations to drive safely – better fuel economy and other environmental outcomes, and reduced running costs. Reducing speeding, lower speed limits and modifying driving style were found to improve fuel economy and other environmental outcomes in addition to improving safety. Community attitude surveys suggest that there will be greater support for measures that aim to improve fuel economy than for those measures that attempt to reduce vehicle travel. In addition, reducing fuel consumption rate without requiring a change in vehicle choice may be more acceptable and more easily implemented in the short-term. Programs such as these that result in reduced fuel consumption in addition to safety are more likely to be implemented because the benefits (in terms of fuel cost savings) flow directly to the vehicle owner. The case study found that the fuel consumption rate of crash-involved vehicles was higher than that of vehicles not involved in crashes and demonstrated the feasibility of this method. Comparisons before and after training in driving to reduce fuel consumption and analytical studies based on fleet data are recommended as measures of the safety effects of fuel-efficient driving. Studies of the effects of instructions in driving style have the potential to provide useful information about the best ways in which to bring about fuel-efficient driving. Key Words:

A study was undertaken to review the recent Australian and international literature relating to traffic law enforcement. The specific areas examined included alcohol, speed, seat belts and signalised intersections. The review documents the types of traffic enforcement methods and the range of options available to policing authorities to increase the overall efficiency (in terms of cost and human resources) and effectiveness of enforcement operations. The review examines many of the issues related to traffic law enforcement including the deterrence mechanism, the effectiveness of legislation and the type of legal sanctions administered to traffic offenders. The need to use enforcement in conjunction with educational and environmental/engineering strategies is also stressed. The use of educational programs and measures targeted at modifying the physical and social environment is also briefly reviewed. The review highlights the importance of developing enforcement strategies designed to maximise deterrence whilst increasing both the perceived and actual probability of apprehension. The use of Random Breath Testing (RBT), automated speed and red light enforcement cameras and selective enforcement

Background Transport is an important determinant of health and there is a well-established association between socio-economic status (SES) and risk of road accidents. Effective traffic calming interventions such as 20 mph zones and limits may therefore improve health and reduce health inequalities. Methods Systematic review methodology was used to identify systematic reviews of the effects of 20 mph zones (including speed limits and road humps) and 20 mph limits on health and SES inequalities in health amongst adults and children. Results Five systematic reviews were included. Overall, they provide convincing evidence that these measures are effective in reducing accidents and injuries, traffic speed and volume, as well as improving perceptions of safety in two of the studies. There was also evidence that such interventions are potentially cost-effective. There was no evidence of the effects on SES inequalities in these outcomes. Conclusion Twenty mile per hour zones and limits are effective means of improving public health via reduced accidents and injuries. Whilst there was no direct evidence on the effects of interventions on health inequalities, targeting such interventions in deprived areas may be beneficial. Further controlled evaluations that specifically examine SES effects are required.

This study details a visualization and research project considering the relationship between highway design and human behavior as influenced by roadside environments. The contribution of the physical driving environment on driving performance and behavior has largely not been appreciated or encompassed in the planning aspects of roadway design. The present experiment sought to investigate the coupling between action and perception (Gibson, 1979) in the context of driving an automobile in different environments. Computer simulation was used to model an actual segment of urban highway (TH 61) planned for reconstruction centrally located within an 80 mile stretch of road. Local communities voiced desires for safe roads, especially with respect to the high rates of speed for pass-through traffic, expressing a desire to explore all options and techniques related to slowing pass-through traffic, collectively known as 'traffic calming'. Traffic calming is a form of traffic planning that seeks to equalize the use of streets and roads among automobiles, pedestrians, bicyclists and playing children. Traffic calming is achieved through the use of devices and techniques that reduce traffic volume and speed while maintaining mobility and access (Engel & Thomsen, 1992). Landscape architects proposed a plan recommending both traditional and non-traditional design treatments and features for reducing traffic speed. Potential elements included: colored asphalt paving (using white rock in the bituminous mixture) to create the illusion of paved strips and/or narrowed lanes;

The failure of the local street system to provide livability and safety in the residential environment can be seen in the application of neighborhood traffic management programs by local authorities to mitigate traffic problems. In order to further identify the extent of the conflict associated with "livability " and geometrical design of residential street, the following issues are examined: (1) Existing and proposed residential streets standards and regulations as practiced by various cities and their evaluation by public and city officials. (2) Traffic problems associated with residential streets and their mitigation through traffic management and control programs. Data are collected from Public Works and Traffic Engineering Departments of 56 Californian cities and 19 cities nation-wide. The findings show that most cities are still adhering to published street standards as recommended by different professional and federal organizations. Although some city officials see the need to amend certain aspects of their regulations and create a more flexible framework for street design, most of them believe that the current practice is satisfactory. Yet, the extant of residents ' complaints about traffic problems on their streets might indicate an inconsistency between professional practice, as manifested in street design, and its actual performance as