A brief account is given of 'traffic collisions in an urban area of Great Britain, a demographic and hierarchic review of road accidents in Birmingham and the West Midlands metropolitan areas' (see IRRD 824124), a study which has broken new ground in its approach to road accident analysis. Emphasis has been on work with direct practical applications which can be put into practice. The study found a trend in accidents that indicated traffic was diverting from major routes to minor roads. A large proportion of casualties were child pedestrians indicating a need for better education and traffic calming measures. The study stresses the need for improved information on road accidents beyong the STATS 19 form in order to aid analysis. To gain social acceptability it is suggested traffic calming projects be demonstrated in suburban areas before introduction into inner cities. Few case studies exist already although the benefits of speed reduction are acknowledged. The analysis of accidents with reference to adjacent land use and the concept of a 'safety audit' are also proposed. The study also recommends legislative changes to provide for the implementation of safety measures.
Abstract