Evaluating the efficacy of traffic calming measures

Abstract

Urban road safety is a growing concern, especially in rapidly developing cities like Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, Maharashtra. Increasing vehicular congestion, rising pedestrian risk, and diverse road user behaviors contribute to a higher percentage of road crashes and fatalities. A significant proportion of these accidents is attributed to inadequate road infrastructure, poor visibility, and unsafe driving practices. Among these factors, speeding remains a predominant cause of road safety. Addressing these challenges requires a strategic approach that involves analyzing vehicle speed patterns, driver behavior, and the effectiveness of traffic calming measures (TCMs). This study aims to assess the impact of various traffic calming measures (TCMs) in enhancing road safety, reducing vehicle speeds, and minimizing accident risks in urban environments. Specifically, it evaluates the effectiveness of speed tables, speed bumps, and rumble strips These are the interventions designed to regulate vehicle speed and improve overall user safety. The research focuses on three key aspects: speed profile influence zones, which analyze how vehicle speeds vary around different TCMs by examining speed patterns, identifying influence zones, and measuring speed reductions; network characteristics, which explore the spatial and geometric factors that affect the performance of TCMs; Safety perception & rating, which is based on the user perception surveys and star rating systems to identify high-risk areas and evaluate their safety levels. The selection of study locations is based on key parameters such as land use, road hierarchy, and accident-prone zones. A comprehensive data collection process, including road inventory surveys, traffic volume counts, speed surveys, and crash data analysis, helps to determine the underlying causes of safety concerns and assess the effectiveness of TCMs under different urban conditions. The study involves a comparative analysis of roads with and without traffic calming measures (TCMs) to evaluate their effectiveness in reducing vehicle speeds. The research examines how TCMs influence speed reduction and compliance with prescribed speed limits by selecting road sections with similar characteristics. Additionally, the study analyses road segments across different hierarchies to assess variations in speed patterns along the different modes. To analyze the speed distribution across various modes and hierarchy of road by examining the 85th, 15th, and 98th percentile speeds. This helps to determine appropriate design speed limits and evaluates the effectiveness of various Traffic Calming Measures (TCMs) in slowing down vehicles where necessary. Evaluating Also, the transition areas, where gradual speed adjustments are crucial for ensuring road safety. The research considers how land use and road hierarchy influence traffic behavior, ensuring that the proposed traffic calming strategies align with broader urban planning needs. By combining speed analysis, safety assessments, and urban planning considerations, this study aims to develop practical and effective traffic management solutions that not only improve road safety but also create safer and more efficient urban streets. Keywords: Pedestrian safety, Road safety, Rumble strips, Speed management, Speed tables, Star rating, Traffic calming measures, Urban mobility, User perception