This report investigates the costs, benefits and effectiveness of existing and alternative measures for constraining the speed of vehicles passing through villages. The study began in July 1991, and an interim report was produced in 1992 (IRRD 855003). The report is supplemented by the Transport Research Laboratory's publication "Speed reduction in 24 villages: details from the VISP study" (PR 85) (IRRD 865162). The trials on which the study was based took place in 24 villages across Great Britain. Speed reduction measures monitored at village entrances included gateways, entrance signing, road marking, central islands, surface treatments of varying colour and texture, and transverse bar markings. Measures installed within villages included pelican crossings, a speed camera, mini-roundabouts, red patches with 30mph roundels, islands, edgelines, centre-hatching, footway extensions, an additional zebra crossing, pinch points and narrowings. Results of the VISP study indicate that speed reductions of from 3mph or less up to 10mph, are dependent on the comprehensiveness, and therefore cost, of the scheme. Costs of the schemes monitored ranged from £2000 to £63500. The report includes a short section on European experience and an appendix provides summaries of the scheme reports on each village which was monitored. The Department of Transport aims to have a follow-on programme of measures for villages on trunk roads.
Samenvatting