The Victorian ‘arrive alive’ 2008-2017 road safety strategy aims to reduce road trauma, to deliver further major improvements to our road transport system, and to improve safety for all Victorian road users. The strategy identifies reductions in traffic speed as having an important role in achieving this aim and this requires the introduction and maintenance of effective speed management strategies. A review of the recent and current literature on the factors that influence choice of driving/riding travel speed was undertaken and a number of factors were identified. These include driver/rider characteristics, motivational and attitudinal factors, speed limits, enforcement, available technologies and road design and infrastructure. A more definitive understanding of these factors can be used to guide recommendations for an improved and enhanced speed management strategy. A suite of recommendations for an enhanced strategy is provided and includes measures addressing the main identified factors influencing speed choice, namely, appropriate speed limit setting, enforcement programs, road design and infrastructure, behavioural and educational programs and uptake of promising technologies. Incorporation of these recommendations will provide more effective speed management in Victoria and thereby further reduce road trauma. (Author/publisher)
Abstract