Speed information on roads and streets from the perspective of traffic fatalities

The aim of the study was to collect existing speed data as comprehensively as possible from the road and street network considered most important in terms of traffic fatalities. The aim was also to determine the appropriate placement of speed measurements on streets and carry out small-scale speed measurements.The placement of speed measurements on streets was obtained from the literature and speed measurements, Speeds were measured on four main street pedestrian crossings and 50 metres before the crossings. The number of pedestrians using a pedestrian crossing was counted at a crossing. Speed data of cars driving directly on three main street sections Were collected from a previous study with GPS-based speed recording. Our studies suggest that pedestrian volume on a pedestrian crossing needs to be fairly substantial to affect the measured average speed of direct traffic flow. With a smaller pedestrian volume, the average speed of direct traffic is the same at a pedestrian crossing and on streets without crossings or intersections. However, other factors like turning vehicles or congestion may reduce the average speed at a crossing with small pedestrian volume. On this basis it is recommended that speed measurements in built-up areas be focused on streets without pedestrian crossings and intersections, as is the case at present. Speed data on the street network were received from four municipalities. On main streets and collector streets in city centres and apartment areas the mean speed was 3l km/h with speed limit 30 km/h, 39 km/h with speed limit 40 km/h, and 46 km/h with speed limit 50 km/h. In less populated areas mean speeds were somewhat higher. On the street network, 25-697o of vehicles were speeding, depending on the speed limit and street type.3-177 % of vehicles exceeded the speed limit by more than l0 km/h. Speed data on roads were collected from the Finnish Transport Agency's automatic measurement points. This data was comprehensive only on main roads, With speed limit 80 km/h the average speed was usually slightly higher than the speed limit; With speed limit 100 km/h it was lower. The average speed was slightly lower on busier roads and in more densely populated areas than on quiet roads in less populated areas. The average speed of free vehicles was I -2 km/h higher than that of all vehicles. An average of 527o of vehicles were speeding, I7 7o of vehicles exceeded the speed limit by more than l0 km/h, and 67o by more than 20 km/h. Driving speed is a key factor in traffic safety. Speed monitoring should be expanded and developed on main streets, collector streets, regional roads and collecting roads. This report may be found at http://www.lintu.info/KANTOTESTAUS.pdf