Casualty Trends
The trend in fatal and serious road accident casualties in Poole and Bournemouth is shown below:
The consultation process on the draft Local Transport Plan highlighted the following problems and opportunities:
Problems
Vehicles speeding in unsuitable areas
Vehicles and pedestrian/cycle conflict, especially at junctions
Driving under influence of drink and drugs
Congestion on residential roads
The goal of an Integrated Transport System aims to promote walking and cycling - these groups are historically the most vulnerable
Opportunities
Requirements of pedestrians and cyclists considered in design of all new highway schemes
Improved pedestrian and cycling routes and facilities
Targeting accident hot spots with remedial measures
Liaison with outside agencies, including Education and Health Authorities and emergency services to identify improvements
Improved education of drivers
Co-ordinate maintenance programme with safety measures, e.g. anti-skid surfacing
Channel vehicles onto suitable roads
Implementation of traffic calming and introduction of "Home Zone Areas"
Road safety education programme
Safer routes to school programme
Improved enforcement of traffic offences
Click for Local Safety Schemes Map 5.4. (This will open in a new window.)
Targets
The Joint South East Dorset Conurbation Road Safety Plan sets out measures to achieve the following targets for 2010, which are in line with national targets as set out in the new road safety document, "Tomorrow's Roads - Safer for Everyone".
- 40% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents
- 50% reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured; and
- 10% reduction in the slight casualty rate, expressed as the number of people slightly injured per 100 million vehicle kilometres
These target figures are reductions in comparison with the average for 1994-98.
To IDENTIFY ROAD SAFETY PROBLEMS, Poole, Bournemouth and Dorset Authorities have invested in accident data recording and analysing systems. In partnership with the police, the process of gathering accident information has been rationalised and improved.
The accident database enables the detailed study of accidents to be undertaken, achieving a greater understanding of the cause of accidents. The results of these studies identify locations for treatment and assist in determining appropriate SOLUTIONS.
The SOLUTION can take the form of one of - or a combination of - the following:
Road safety engineering
Road safety education, training and publicity
Enforcement
The accident database can also determine the success of the SOLUTIONS by comparison of before and after accident figures.
Road Safety Engineering
There is great scope for physical engineering measures to improve road safety, some of the methods for consideration include:
Traffic Calming
By plotting the scatter of accidents, areas or routes with high incidents of accidents can be identified. Particular attention is paid to areas or lengths of road containing schools, cycle routes, bus routes and other social facilities. By studying the nature and cause of the accidents, an appropriate traffic safety scheme can be put forward for consultation.
Accident Remedial Measures
An Accident Cluster Site or hot spot is defined as an area of 50m radius with four or more injury accidents in the previous three years. By studying the accidents at the cluster sites, the cause can be identified; measures can then be proposed to remedy the problems. The accident hot spots are then ranked in order of priority using a points system for budget allocation.
Road Safety Education, Training and Publicity
It is acknowledged that engineering measures need to be supported by an integrated programme of education, training and publicity in order to significantly increase the public's awareness of the causes and consequences of road crashes. Through education, it is hoped that there will be a gradual improvement in road users' attitudes.
Enforcement
The Local Authorities and Dorset Police work in partnership to target areas where there have been speed related accidents. The technological aids to detect traffic law violations will continue to be introduced as equipment and resources become available, to be used to target high-risk sites.
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