Slowing down for road safety

Slowing down can help boost road safety.
By MJ Woof November 30, 2020 Read time: 1 min
Reducing speeds will help reduce the incidence of road crashes – image © courtesy of Tom Schwimmbeck
A new study carried out by the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) shows that increasing vehicle speeds by 1% increases the incidence of crashes. The study shows that a 1% jump in speeds boosts the incidence of crashes involving serious injuries by 3% and fatal crashes by 4%.

Despite this risk, some 54% of UK drivers questioned for the survey have admitted speeding in 50km/h (30mph) zones.

To reduce the incidence of crashes, TRL is calling for a change in speed limits in urban areas with a switch to 30km/h (20mph) limits being introduced, particularly in high density areas. TRL says that this low level speeding can be risky as with high level speeding.

Reducing urban speed limits would assist in promoting active travel in urban areas according to TRL, with a boost for public health and a reduction in urban pollution from traffic emissions.
Highway & Network Management

For more information on companies in this article

TRL

Related Content

  • Barriers technology ensures greater highway safety even for heavy vehicles such as trucks
    June 20, 2014
    The redirective capabilities of the latest safety barrier systems can prevent deaths and serious injuries in the event of unforeseen incidents. Sudden tyre failures can be particularly risky with regard to heavy trucks travelling at high speeds on highways. However effective barrier selection can ensure cross-over crashes are avoided, reducing the risk of crashes causing catastrophic deaths and injuries, as this video from the UK reveals.
    Read More
  • Road safety has improved worldwide
    January 5, 2024
    Road safety has improved worldwide but still falls short of targets.
    Read More
  • Alcohol consumption car crash cause
    December 15, 2014
    A new report from insurance firm Allianz highlights the appalling risks to road users resulting from drink driving. "On a global level, every 10th fatal accident can be traced back to alcohol. Men are more likely to expose themselves to this danger, risking their lives with it," according to Christoph Lauterwasser, Head of the Allianz Center for Technology (AZT) in Munich. The fatality rates from road traffic crashes that have resulted from alcohol use have been investigated by the World Health Organisatio
    Read More
  • Highways England, Kier trial warning airbag
    February 23, 2021
    “Home Safe and Well”* is not just an inflated phrase put out by Highways England to raise awareness of work zone dangers. A large prototype airbag is adding some highly visible emphasis to the agency’s safety focus, reports David Arminas
    Read More

Highlighted Content