Look and learn: capitalising on individual responsibility in speed management

This paper presents the Transport Research Laboratory's (TRL) latest research findings and experience with speed management, in particular with non enforcement based technologies such as the interactive road sign. It discusses TRL's findings that road users are responding positively to information advising of inappropriate speeds linked to specific reasoning, and outlines the results of research examining speed behaviour in response to an interactive sign system that advises a change of behaviour and links it to specific and identifiable risks. The interactive sign system is shown to be effective in creating a willingness of road users to co-operate without the threat of enforcement and the related ongoing administrative requirements or loss of 'customer' goodwill. The appearance of the signs without any further initiatives leading to a positive behaviour change is delivering a "look and learn" response from drivers, more aligned with experience based positive reinforcement than more punitive or control based road safety initiatives. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E211783.