This report discusses the effectiveness of a type of slow point, the 90° bend. To determine the effectiveness of the 90° bend in controlling speed, surveyed speeds were compared with expected speeds based on design standards in the Australian Model Code for Residential Development (AMCORD). Speed surveys of eleven 90° bends in urban local roads were conducted in three municipalities in Melbourne. The Vehicle Data Acquisition System (VDAS) developed at ARRB was used for these surveys. Speeds at the 90° bend, the midpoint between bend and end slow point and 20 meters from the end slow point were obtained. Variables affecting speeds on urban local roads such as road width, traffic volume, radius of curvature and street length were analysed for their significance. It was found that 90° bends were more likely to result in vehicle speeds around 25 km/h rather than 20 km/h as suggested in the design codes. The implications for designers and traffic managers are discussed. Future research on the relationship between speed and sight distances on urban local road is outlined. (A) The ISBN of the microfiche version is 0-86910-609-0.
Abstract