Transcript Average Speed Camera Systems

George Henry
Road Safety Manager
23 August 2013
A9 Trunk Road
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The A9 Trunk Road is the main route that
connects central Scotland and the
Highlands
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It stretches from Dunblane, situated north
of Stirling, and travels north bypassing
Perth and Inverness before finishing in
Thurso
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The route is made up of single and dual
carriageways with varying speed limits
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It carries a broad mix of road users
comprising local drivers, commuters,
freight transport and tourist traffic
Accident & Casualty Statistics
A9 Trunk Road Accidents By Severity & Year
Year
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Total
Fatal
10
6
11
11
5
43
Accidents
Serious
Slight
25
108
41
130
25
107
18
83
23
86
132
514
Total
143
177
143
112
114
689
A9 Trunk Road Casualties By Severity & Year
Year
Killed
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Total
15
7
15
13
8
58
Casualties
Seriously
Slightly
Injured
Injured
34
238
55
276
38
266
36
196
33
211
196
1187
Total
287
338
319
245
252
1441
Who are the Safety Group
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The A9 Safety Group was set up by Transport Scotland in July 2012
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The multi-agency group is made up of representatives from
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Transport Scotland
Police Scotland
Road Safety Scotland
The Highland Council
Perth and Kinross Council
Road Haulage Association (RHA)
Freight Transport Association (FTA),
Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT)
Stagecoach
Safety Camera Partnerships
BEAR Scotland
Our Aim
“The main aim of the A9 Safety Group is to work together before
and during the A9 dualling programme to explore any measures
which could be introduced on the route using engineering,
enforcement, education and encouragement to positively influence
driver behaviour in a way that helps reduce road casualties”
Safety Performance
• Trunk Road Operating Companies on behalf of the A9SG carried
out an evidence base review
• The review included analysis of accidents, vehicle speeds, traffic
flows and existing speed enforcement statistics.
• The route was split into three sections of similar character
• Dunblane to Perth
• Perth to North of Inverness (Tore Roundabout)
• North of Inverness to Thurso
Dunblane to Perth
• High severity of accidents at
junctions
• 53% of right turn accidents are KSI’s
(Killed or seriously Injured) compared to a
north east unit average of 29%
• Higher number of accidents
involving HGV’s above 7.5 tonnes
• 17% involve HGV’s compared to a north
east unit average of 9%
• High number of single vehicle
accidents striking roadside objects
Perth to North of Inverness
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77% of all KSI accidents occurred on single
carriageways
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Single carriageway KSI ratio (0.32) is above the trunk
road national average (0.24)
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Higher number of accidents involving HGV’s above 7.5
tonnes
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HGV’s above 7.5 Tonnes are nearly 3 times more likely
to be involved in an injury accident on single
carriageways than they are on other Scottish trunk road
single carriageways
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HGV’s involved in 22.8% of all accidents on single
carriageway sections
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Goods vehicles under 7.5 tonnes are involved in 13.6%
of accidents on single carriageway sections compared
to a north west unit average of 7%
North of Inverness to Thurso
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High severity of accidents at junctions
• 43% of accidents occurred at a junction
compared to a north west unit average of 26%
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Turning right manoeuvres is the most
common vehicle manoeuvres in
accidents
• 13.5% compared to a north west unit average
of 6.1%
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Failing to look properly, failing to
judge other persons speed,
careless/reckless and poor turning
practices are the most common
recorded contributory factors
Engineering Initiatives
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Over £50 million of improvements already invested
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Since the formation of the A9SG we have implemented
engineering measures including
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Lining & Road Stud Works
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Barrier Works
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The replacement of 60 mph speed limit repeater
signs (96) with two way traffic signs
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Extend journey time information system
between Dunblane and Inverness
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Efficiencies sought around roadworks
We are also currently looking into
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Existing forward and junction visibility splays to
be checked to optimise safety through
vegetation and landscaping works
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Signing and Lining to be assessed over entire
length
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Explore further locations for VMS
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Carry out more accident analysis to establish
trends and issues
Enforcement Initiatives
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Police Scotland Trunk Roads Patrol Group was formed
to raise visibility with the public across the trunk road
network which includes the A9
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Aim to positively influence driver behaviour and enforce
legislation with a view to reducing casualties
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Speed Enforcement by Northern, Tayside and Central
Safety Camera Partnerships (SCPs)
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SCP enforcement through 5 Fixed Safety Cameras
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Dunblane to Perth (3)
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Perth to Inverness (2)
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And widespread mobile enforcement (109 sites) across
the entire route
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SCP’s reported that the level of detected offences
remain a concern
Education Initiatives
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Set up a brand and strapline to
promote future initiatives
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Creation of a dedicated website to be a
platform for communication
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Set up a communications strategy to
promote safety campaigns
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Work has begun on the first A9 Safety
Group campaign on overtaking
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A9SG to carry out further research on
driver frustration
Analysis & Research
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Transport Research Laboratory with SIAS carried out
research into the potential impacts of increasing the
HGV speed limit on single carriageway sections of the
A9 along with the deployment of an average speed
camera system
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The research indicated that the introduction of effective
speed enforcement alone would result in a decrease in
accidents.
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It considered HGV speeds being retained at 40 mph and
the increase to 50 mph
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The A9 Safety Group subsequently agreed that after
reviewing the available evidence and research that
Average Speed Cameras will have a positive impact on
driver behaviour and safety on the A9
Analysis & Research
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The A9SG understand how important the movement of freight is
to the Highlands
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The over involvement in accidents of Heavy Goods Vehicles
greater than 7.5 tonnes raises particular concerns
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HGV’s above 7.5 Tonnes are nearly 3 times more likely to be
involved in an injury accident on single carriageways of the A9
(Perth to Inverness) than they are on other Scottish trunk road
single carriageways
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HGV’s above 7.5 Tonnes are involved in nearly a quarter of all
accidents on single carriageways on the A9 (Perth to Inverness)
yet only make up typically 7% of the traffic
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The research indicates Average Speed Cameras (ASCs) will
improve safety, regardless of whether the HGV above 7.5 Tonnes
speed limit is retained at 40mph (or increased to 50mph)
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However, it indicates that the operation of cameras at 40mph is
the safest option and the group agreed Average Speed Cameras
will improve safety on the A9
Average Speed Camera’s
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Transport Minister announced that average speed cameras were to be
installed following advice from the A9SG
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The A9 system will be the second in Scotland, the first was installed on
the A77 in Ayrshire between Bogend Toll and Ardwell Bay in 2005.
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It delivered a 46 per cent reduction in fatal accidents and 35 per cent
reduction in serious accidents
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The system will operate on the A9 from just north of Keir Roundabout
(Dunblane) to just south of Raigmore Interchange (Inverness). This is
approximately 136 miles (220 km’s)
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It is expected that the cost of the system will be in the region of £2.5
million. Transport Scotland as the Trunk Road Authority will pay for this
initiative
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The nature of the A9 in terms of its length, geometry, vehicle speeds and
accident record (high proportion of KSI accidents which by nature are
often a function of speed, and wide distribution of accidents across the
route) indicate that an ASCS could positively influence road safety on this
route
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We expect the scheme to pay for itself through accident savings within the
first year of its operation.
Next Steps
• To improve safety ahead of dualling we are
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Before and after A9 user surveys
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Carry out further research on driver frustration
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Continued high visibility enforcement by Police Scotland
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Public information events to be held in November 2013
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First road safety campaign on overtaking
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Further assessment of potential 50 mph HGV pilot
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Education around National Speed Limits and Driver Behaviour
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Implement additional road improvement schemes
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Install average speed cameras
George Henry
Road Safety Manager
23 August 2013