The study investigates the effect on collisions as part of a trial to permitting powered two-wheeled vehicles (P2Ws) to use bus lanes along three routes along the TLRN (A13, A23 & A41), using 36 month before and after collision data. The study forms part of a wider review of the trial by TfL based on traffic and user data. Analyses of collision types within the length of the routes containing bus lanes showed that overall, relative to control data, there was a 4% decrease in total collisions during bus lane operating hours. This could have occurred due to chance. For collisions involving a P2W during operating hours, there was a 1% increase, although again not statistically significant. For P2W collisions during operating hours, those resulting in injury to pedestrians increased by 3% and those resulting in injury to the P2W user increased by 6%, although neither increase was statistically significant. There were very few collisions involving a P2W and a pedal cyclist, but these showed a decrease. Most of the other collision types analysed showed small changes (some increases and some decreases) although almost all of them were not significant. Generally, however, it was found that there was significant variation between the trial routes. Detailed analysis of individual collisions involving P2Ws along the trial routes showed several changes in the conflict types, particularly involving right turning vehicles in conflict with the P2W during operating hours. Those involving the vehicle turning right across the P2W from the opposite direction increased whilst those turning right from a side road decreased. Increases in collisions were found for both those involving the P2W overtaking on the nearside and those reported as actually occurring in the bus lane. Overall, from this study, there was no clear evidence to suggest that permitting P2Ws in bus lanes provides safety benefits. (Author/publisher)
Abstract