Application of low-cost road accident countermeasures according to an area-wide strategy

The project described used a 2.8 km section of the a345 all purpose arterial road running radially from the edge of swindon central area to the urban boundary to show how road safety and traffic efficiency could be improved using the strategy. Previous statistics showed that the majority of accidents on the route were associated with a right-turn manoeuvre at one of the many intersections on the road. The effectiveness of a package of safety measures introduced along the study route was monitored in parallel with control sections of similar routes and possible alternative routes. Although the control procedure failed because of fundamental differences in the chosen routes and the study route, there was a genuine 10 per cent reduction in accidents along the study route associated with a reduction in delays to other traffic caused by vehicles waiting to turn right. Travel time, fuel consumption and intersection capacity have also improved. There appeared to be no adverse effect on the accessibility to residential premises lying behind the study route. It was estimated that the first-year rate of return of the cost was about 55 per cent. (TRRL)