Planning and design guides frequently state that local streets should be designed so that speeds are restrained to lower levels without resorting to traffic control devices. This paper reviews the design methods by which this may be achieved. Specific attention is given to network considerations, street section length, road width, horizontal alignment and sight distance. Various suggestions are offered on the basis of current information, particularly stressing the importance of reducing the length of uninterrupted road sections and adopting realistic horizontal curve design parameters. Emphasis is placed on the total design of the road and its setting as a whole in order to achieve consistently restrained driving rather than just point speed reduction. (A)
Abstract