THE EVALUATION OF ACCIDENT COUNTER-MEASURES FOR APPLICATION IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS: PART 1 - SUMMARY

The research reported here involved an examination of the potential for applying low-cost accident counter-measures in residential areas where, typically, vehicular and pedestrian volumes are relatively low. In part 1, there is a summary of the procedure by which the counter-measures were evaluated against certain criteria and then compared one with another, in order that the most promising could be identified. In part 2, the details of each counter-measure are presented using a standard format to describe and evaluate them with respect to the defined criteria. Fifty three counter-measures were identified, within six strategies. Most have been applied in the UK, although not necessarily in residential areas or as a single measure. Evidence of the effectiveness of individual counter-measures is rare as most are commonly used as components of an overall traffic or environmental scheme. Furthermore, despite the relatively widespread use of some devices, little evaluation of their effectiveness appears to have been undertaken. As a result the evaluation, in some respects, is subjective. The framework, however, has been designed with this in mind and allows the adoption of alternative value-judgements and the assessment of their implications on the results of the evaluation. The results presented here, where firm evidence does not exist, are based on a range of plausible judgements and the results are relatively stable with respect to them. (TRRL)