scholarly journals Speed limits and accident rates on highways around the world, is there a correlation?

2021 ◽  
Vol 899 (1) ◽  
pp. 012063
Author(s):  
G Papageorgiou ◽  
D Kaltsidis ◽  
O Nako ◽  
E. Paschalis ◽  
N Alamanis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Road Network ◽  
Correlation Equation ◽  
Speed Limit ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Accident Rate ◽  
Speed Limits ◽  
Limit Values ◽  
Accident Rates ◽  
Distinctive Role

Abstract The objective of this study stands for the investigation and evaluation of accidents that take place on highways, in comparison with speed limits. The main body of this research is based on the collection of highways speed limits from different countries around the globe regarding to years, 2010, 2017 and 2018. Secondly, accident rates are collected from highway authorities, as well as from international literature. Subsequently, a statistical analysis of the collected data is conducted and finally leads to an equation that links and correlates the speed limit values and the number of accidents. The results of this statistical analysis show that speed limit plays a certain and distinctive role in the accident rate value. However, one of the interesting findings, stands for the non-continuously increasing number of accidents in the speed limit range, from the lowest to the highest value, meaning that there is an inflection point in the graph of the correlation equation. To be noted, that in terms of this study, the aforementioned correlation is independent of other factors that could affect the accident rate, such as vehicles condition, technology, road network length and condition.

Evaluation of Speed Limits in Kentucky

1998 ◽  
Vol 1640 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth R. Agent ◽  
Jerry G. Pigman ◽  
Joel M. Weber
Keyword(s):  
Speed Limit ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Speed Limits ◽  
Fatal Accident ◽  
Engineering Study ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Accident Data ◽  
Accident Rates ◽  
Specific Section ◽  
Moving Speed

The objectives were to examine current criteria and procedures used for setting speed limits and to determine appropriate speed limits for various types of roads. The study involved a review of literature, collection and analysis of speed data, and collection and analysis of accident data. The speed data included moving speed data on various highway types and a comparison of speed data before and after speed limit changes. Accident data were collected at locations where speed limits were changed and also on sections of adjacent Interstates with different speed limits. The speed data indicate that a large percentage of vehicle speeds exceed posted speed limits, with the highest percentage being on urban Interstates and two-lane parkways. The speeds for trucks were slightly lower than for cars. A comparison of speed data at locations where speed limits were changed showed only slight differences. A comparison of accident rates at adjacent sections of Interstate where the speed limit was 88.6 km/hr (55 mph) and 104.7 km/hr (65 mph) did not find a substantial difference in the total, injury, or fatal accident rates. Except where legislatively mandated speed limits apply, the 85th-percentile speed should be used to establish speed limits. Maximum limits are given for various types of roadways. Different speed limits for cars and trucks are recommended for some roadways. An engineering study must be conducted before the speed limit should be changed for any specific section of roadway.

A statistical analysis of fatal collisions and derailments of passenger trains on British Railways: 1967-1996

1997 ◽  
Vol 211 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. W. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Rolling Stock ◽  
Accident Rate ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Passenger Trains ◽  
Accident Rates

This paper presents a statistical analysis of collisions and derailments involving loaded or empty passenger trains on British Railways in the 30 year period 1967 to 1996 that resulted in fatalities to train occupants. The main conclusions are that there has been a long-term fall of about 4 per cent per year in the accident rate, from about three accidents to one accident per 20 billion passenger-miles between the start and the end of the period; that there is no significant difference in the accident rates of Mark 1 and post-Mark 1 passenger rolling stock; but that post-Mark 1 stock has significantly fewer fatalities per accident than Mark 1 stock. Estimates are made of the average savings in casualties that could be expected from further withdrawals of Mark 1 stock.

scholarly journals The Effect of Posted Speed Limit on the Dispersion of Traffic Flow Speed

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 3594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Gao ◽  
Jinliang Xu ◽  
Qunshan Li ◽  
Jie Yang
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Flow ◽  
Flow Speed ◽  
Traffic Volume ◽  
Free Flow ◽  
Speed Limit ◽  
Flow State ◽  
Speed Limits ◽  
Limit Values ◽  
Average Speed ◽  
The Road

Speed dispersion is an important indicator to portray the quality of traffic flow and is closely related to the road safety operation level. In order to clarify the influence of posted speed limits on the dispersion of traffic flow speed, three sections with speed limits of 80 km/h, 100 km/h and 120 km/h on the same expressway were selected for observation, and traffic volume, speed and other parameters were collected. The characteristic speeds, such as average speed, V15 and V85, were evaluation indicators, where V15 and V85 are the speeds of the 15th and 85th percentiles measured at the feature points of the road when the traffic is in a free-flow state and the weather is good. The relationship between different posted speed limit values and the above indicators was analyzed using the statistical analysis software, SPSS. The results show that the speed limit has a high correlation with the average speed of traffic flow, V15 and V85 in free-flow state, with the coefficient of determination being as high as 0.84, 0.85 and 0.92, respectively. In the restricted flow state, the factors affecting the driver’s driving speed are mainly the decrease in driving freedom caused by the increase of traffic volume rather than the speed limit value. In a free-flow state, when the posted speed limit is increased and the average speed and the V85 also increased by approximately the same magnitude. The posted speed limit values of 80 km/h, 100 km/h and 120 km/h correspond to the 90, 88 and 97 percentile speeds of the traffic flow, respectively. The higher the speed limit is, the larger the speed difference between V15 and V85 becomes. The results of the study are very useful for rationally determining the speed limit scheme under different traffic flows.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Impacts of Speed Limit Increases on Rural Two-Lane Highways Using Quantile Regression

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110197
Author(s):  
Md Shakir Mahmud ◽  
Nischal Gupta ◽  
Babak Safaei ◽  
Hisham Jashami ◽  
Timothy J. Gates ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quantile Regression ◽  
Spillover Effects ◽  
Speed Limit ◽  
Passenger Cars ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Speed Limits ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Rural Highways ◽  
Speed Selection ◽  
Numerous Site

Understanding speed selection behavior of drivers following speed limit increases is critically important. To date, the literature has largely focused on freeways and the effects of speed limit changes on two-lane highways remains under researched. Prior research has generally focused on changes to mean speeds, although the speeds of both the highest and lowest drivers are also of great interest. This study investigates trends in free-flow travel speeds following 2017 legislation that increased the posted speed limit from 55 to 65 mph on 943 mi of rural highways in Michigan. Speed data were collected for over 46,000 drivers at 67 increase segments where speed limit increased and 28 control segments where speed limits remained unchanged, before and during each of the two successive years following the speed limit increases. Site-specific traffic, geometric, and cross-sectional information was also collected. Impacts of the speed limit increases on the 15th, 50th, and 85th percentile speeds were evaluated using quantile regression. Separate analyses were conducted for passenger cars and heavy vehicles. Locations where the speed limits were raised experienced increases in travel speeds ranging from 2.8 to 4.8 mph. The control sites experienced marginal changes in speeds, which suggests that any spillover effects of the higher speed limits have been limited. Significant differences were observed across the quantiles with respect to the effects of the speed limit increases, as well as numerous site-specific variables of interest. The results provide important insights about the nature of driver speed selection and the impacts of speed limit increases.

scholarly journals European birds adjust their flight initiation distance to road speed limits

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 20130417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Legagneux ◽  
Simon Ducatez
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Structure ◽  
Territory Size ◽  
Speed Limit ◽  
Vehicle Speed ◽  
Flight Initiation Distance ◽  
Speed Limits ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Road Speed ◽  
Flight Initiation ◽  
Local Speed

Behavioural responses can help species persist in habitats modified by humans. Roads and traffic greatly affect animals' mortality not only through habitat structure modifications but also through direct mortality owing to collisions. Although species are known to differ in their sensitivity to the risk of collision, whether individuals can change their behaviour in response to this is still unknown. Here, we tested whether common European birds changed their flight initiation distances (FIDs) in response to vehicles according to road speed limit (a known factor affecting killing rates on roads) and vehicle speed. We found that FID increased with speed limit, although vehicle speed had no effect. This suggests that birds adjust their flight distance to speed limit, which may reduce collision risks and decrease mortality maximizing the time allocated to foraging behaviours. Mobility and territory size are likely to affect an individuals' ability to respond adaptively to local speed limits.

scholarly journals Do speed cameras reduce speeding in urban areas?

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 208-218
Author(s):  
Daniele Falci de Oliveira ◽  
Amélia Augusta de Lima Friche ◽  
Dário Alves da Silva Costa ◽  
Sueli Aparecida Mingoti ◽  
Waleska Teixeira Caiaffa
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Cell Phones ◽  
Speed Limit ◽  
Structural Interventions ◽  
Speed Limits

Abstract This observational study aimed to estimate the prevalence of speeding on urban roadways and to analyze associated factors. The sample consisted of 8,565 vehicles circulating in areas with and without fixed speed cameras in operation. We found that 40% of vehicles 200 meters after the fixed cameras and 33.6% of vehicles observed on roadways without speed cameras were moving over the speed limit (p < 0.001). Motorcycles showed the highest recorded speed (126km/h). Most drivers were men (87.6%), 3.3% of all drivers were using their cell phones, and 74.6% of drivers (not counting motorcyclists) were wearing their seatbelts. On roadway stretches without fixed speed cameras, more women drivers were talking on their cell phones and wearing seatbelts when compared to men (p < 0.05 for both comparisons), independently of speed limits. The results suggest that compliance with speed limits requires more than structural interventions.

scholarly journals SCALE-FREE NETWORK THEORY IN STUDYING THE STRUCTURE OF THE ROAD NETWORK IN POLAND

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna KOCUR-BERA
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Traffic Flow ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Road Network ◽  
Scale Free Network ◽  
Scale Free ◽  
The Road ◽  
Normal Character ◽  
Free Network ◽  
The Relationship

This paper discusses the issue of statistical analysis of traffic flow in different regions of Poland. Such analysis allows us to identify “valuable (sensitive) areas” whose damage or blockage may provoke considerable disturbances or even a stoppage of traffic flow in the examined road network. The results of the studies indicate that the road network in Poland has the properties of a scale-free network. The distribution of the examined variables does not have a normal character, whereas the relationship between the number of nodes and the number of connections is a power-law feature. 

Emissions Impact of Eliminating National Speed Limits: One Year Later

1997 ◽  
Vol 1587 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-120
Author(s):  
Maureen A. Mullen ◽  
James H. Wilson ◽  
Laura Gottsman ◽  
Robert B. Noland ◽  
William L. Schroeer
Keyword(s):  
Maximum Speed ◽  
Speed Limit ◽  
Oxides Of Nitrogen ◽  
Speed Limits ◽  
The Past ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
National Highway ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Highway System

The National Highway System (NHS) bill passed by Congress in November 1995 eliminated the national maximum speed limit. It has allowed states to set their own speed limits, which many have changed during the past year. This analysis examines the impact of speed limit changes 1 year after passage of the NHS. Oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds are analyzed and are found to have increased nationwide by up to 6, 7, and 2 percent, respectively. Much of the increase has occurred in western states, which generally have increased vehicle speeds more than in eastern and midwestern states. For example, in Texas NOx emissions are estimated to have increased by 35 percent due to large increases in highway and arterial speed limits.

Investigation of the Effectiveness of Boulevard Roadways

1998 ◽  
Vol 1635 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore Castronovo ◽  
Paul W. Dorothy ◽  
Thomas L. Maleck
Keyword(s):  
The State ◽  
Accident Rate ◽  
Left Turn ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Accident Rates ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The 1960S

The state of Michigan has been constructing directional crossovers in the medians of boulevard roadways since the 1960s to alleviate the congestion and interlocking that were occurring at bidirectional crossover locations. The objective of this research is to investigate the safety benefits of divided roadway and directional crossover median designs. An investigation of the mean accident rates of roadways with boulevards compared to the mean accident rates of roadways with continuous center left-turn lanes revealed that there is a significant difference, with boulevard roadways having a lower mean accident rate for those Michigan roadways investigated. Investigation into the difference of the mean accident rates for boulevard roadways with medians of different widths indicated that roadways with medians greater than 9.15 m (30 ft) but less than 18.30 m (60 ft) had the lowest mean accident rate of the three median categories investigated. The difference was significant for most accident types when compared to roadways with medians less than or equal to 9.15 m (30 ft) and greater or equal to 18.30 m (60 ft). The investigation of the accident rates for boulevard roadways with directional and bidirectional signalized crossovers, while not conclusive, indicated that boulevard roadways with direction crossovers had a lower mean accident rate than boulevard roadways with bidirectional crossovers for signalized roadways.

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