Study Details

Study Title: Safety Impact of Average Speed Control in the UK

Authors: Lahrmann et al.

Publication Date:SEP, 2016

Abstract: There is considerable safety potential in ensuring that motorists respect the speed limits. High speeds increase the number and severity of accidents. Technological development over the last 20 years has enabled the development of systems that allow automatic speed control. The first generation of automatic speed control was pointbased, but in recent years a potentially more effective alternative automatic speed control method has been introduced. This method is based upon records of drivers’ average travel speed over selected sections of the road and is normally called average speed control or section control. This article discusses the different methods for automatic speed control and presents an evaluation of the safety effects of average speed control, documented through changes in speed levels and accidents before and after the implementation of average speed control at selected sites in the UK. The study demonstrates that the introduction of average speed control results in statistically significant and substantial reductions both in speed and in number of accidents. The evaluation indicates that average speed control has a higher safety effect than point-based automatic speed control.

Study Citation: Lahrmann, H., B. Brassøe, J. W. Johansen, J. C. O. Madsen. "Safety Impact of Average Speed Control in the UK." Journal of Transportation Technologies, No. 6 (2016) pp. 312-326

Study Report: Download the Study Report Document


CMFs Associated With This Study

Category: Advanced technology and ITS

Countermeasure: Install automated section speed enforcement system

CMF CRF(%)QualityCrash TypeCrash SeverityRoadway TypeArea Type
0.76242 StarsAllK,A,B,CNot specifiedAll
0.7302 StarsAllK,A,B,CPrincipal Arterial Other Freeways and ExpresswaysAll
0.3701 StarAllK,APrincipal Arterial Other Freeways and ExpresswaysAll