There have been many reports of motorists using the lack of traffic on the roads during the Covid19 lockdown to flout the speed limits and now with more traffic back on the roads there is a danger that some may continue to drive at excessive speeds even after things are back to ‘normal’.
Behavioural Science in transportation (understanding the behaviour and motivations of transport users such as motorists and rail commuters etc) is a fascinating subject which plays a big part in the engineering and design of roads and their ‘furniture’ in an attempt to gently persuade drivers to modify their driving behaviour to something more appropriate.
There are many such psychological tactics in place to combat speeding but could we be doing more? What other engineering solutions could be implemented to stop excessive speeding? How do different countries tackle speeding on their roads? What could we learn from them?
The 2 second rule was pure thinking outside the box genius, simple to understand, simple to implement and effective.
Out of the box indeed! It is a case of what drivers can easily observe and understand. But let's get back to the topic - speed limits and observation. And to take a line from the initial post:
How do different countries tackle speeding on their roads? What could we learn from them?
I have observed that in some countries, particularly USA and Canada, speed limits are respected much better than they are here. I decided to compare the way speed limits are signed in these places.
UK speed limits for visitors:
No indication at all, as applicable to motorways. Everyone (including foreigners) is supposed to just know that the speed limit is 70 mph - unless a lower speed limit is indicated.
A red-bordered disc with a number within. This shows the actual speed limit past this point. It is used wherever the speed limit changes.
A white disc with a black diagonal bar. This means that the speed limit is 60 mph if a single carriageway and 70 mph if a dual cariageway. (Why on earth can they not just use method 2 above?)
Street lighting. This means that the speed limit is 30 mph unless another speed limit is indicated. (But not on a motorway - see also 5d below.)
Repeater signs. These are smaller than the regular ones announcing the start of a new speed limit, and act as speed limit reminders. They are used:
a. on motorways and dual carriageways where a speed limit lower than 70 mph applies,
b. on single carriageway unlit roads where a speed limit lower than 60 mph applies,
c. on lit roads where a speed limit above or below 30 mph applies.
d. They are prohibited on lit roads where the speed limit is 30 mph, except on motorways, where they are allowed if applicable.
North American speed limits for visitors:
A number in a rectangular panel shows the speed limit from this point forwards (regardless of class of road or whether it is lit).
Um ... that's about it.
Likewise, many European countries have a far simpler system than the UK. For example, in Sweden the maximum speed anywhere is 110 km/h. This is indicated by a red-bordered circle with the figure 110 inside it. Simple! Much clearer than a diagonal black bar. The problem in the UK is that they are indicated in such a complicated way, as a result of many amendments to the law since the thirties. Also they do not always relate to road conditions. I have driven many thousands of miles in the USA but have yet to see there the speed limit go up as one proceeds from a major road to a lesser road. Perhaps that is part of the reason why speed limits are better observed in N America. I don't envy foreigners driving on our roads and trying to understand our speed limits.
The 2 second rule was pure thinking outside the box genius, simple to understand, simple to implement and effective.
Out of the box indeed! It is a case of what drivers can easily observe and understand. But let's get back to the topic - speed limits and observation. And to take a line from the initial post:
How do different countries tackle speeding on their roads? What could we learn from them?
I have observed that in some countries, particularly USA and Canada, speed limits are respected much better than they are here. I decided to compare the way speed limits are signed in these places.
UK speed limits for visitors:
No indication at all, as applicable to motorways. Everyone (including foreigners) is supposed to just know that the speed limit is 70 mph - unless a lower speed limit is indicated.
A red-bordered disc with a number within. This shows the actual speed limit past this point. It is used wherever the speed limit changes.
A white disc with a black diagonal bar. This means that the speed limit is 60 mph if a single carriageway and 70 mph if a dual cariageway. (Why on earth can they not just use method 2 above?)
Street lighting. This means that the speed limit is 30 mph unless another speed limit is indicated. (But not on a motorway - see also 5d below.)
Repeater signs. These are smaller than the regular ones announcing the start of a new speed limit, and act as speed limit reminders. They are used:
a. on motorways and dual carriageways where a speed limit lower than 70 mph applies,
b. on single carriageway unlit roads where a speed limit lower than 60 mph applies,
c. on lit roads where a speed limit above or below 30 mph applies.
d. They are prohibited on lit roads where the speed limit is 30 mph, except on motorways, where they are allowed if applicable.
North American speed limits for visitors:
A number in a rectangular panel shows the speed limit from this point forwards (regardless of class of road or whether it is lit).
Um ... that's about it.
Likewise, many European countries have a far simpler system than the UK. For example, in Sweden the maximum speed anywhere is 110 km/h. This is indicated by a red-bordered circle with the figure 110 inside it. Simple! Much clearer than a diagonal black bar. The problem in the UK is that they are indicated in such a complicated way, as a result of many amendments to the law since the thirties. Also they do not always relate to road conditions. I have driven many thousands of miles in the USA but have yet to see there the speed limit go up as one proceeds from a major road to a lesser road. Perhaps that is part of the reason why speed limits are better observed in N America. I don't envy foreigners driving on our roads and trying to understand our speed limits.
