b) Accident reduction at specific problem locations - development of traffic management measures to reduce accident at “blackspots” or on problem routes-areas (for example, accidents to vulnerable road system users – such as pedestrians – may not be concentrated at a particular site but may occur more generally in the road network.
6.6.1. Prevention of accidents is influenced by the approach to design and the types of policies and measures included in a city’s traffic management. The following paragraphs discuss traffic safety in the context of (traffic regulation enforcement is discussed subsequently):
a) promotion of safety within scheme planning and design and safety audits;
b) planning and design of speed limits and appropriate speed controls (traffic calming) controls; and
c) planning and design for recognition of needs of vulnerable road users
6.7.1. Although the “traffic management agency” may have a separate road safety group with the responsibility to analyse accident data, promote safety programs and review schemes for safety impacts, safety should be regarded as an integral part of any traffic management scheme design and should be an important evaluation criterion governing the acceptance of any scheme or measure.
6.7.2. In some countries, notably UK, the concept of “Independent Safety Audit” is applied. All but the simplest of schemes are subject to scrutiny by traffic management designers who were not involved in the original scheme planning and design. The Audit evaluates schemes solely from a safety standpoint against pre-defined criteria and standards which define the safety of all user groups. The Audit may be carried out by non-involved staff of the “traffic management agency” or by independent consultants. In some developing cities, it is acknowledged that there may be few experienced traffic management staff and lack of resources for the employment of consultants.
Nevertheless, the savings in social costs from the introduction of “safe” schemes should more than offset costs and the independent safety audit is worth consideration as part of the normal design process.
6.7.3. The “Safety Review” states, “speed enforcement and area-wide speed limits are effective in reducing crashes”. A policy of realistically defined, network wide speed limits is an essential part of traffic management strategy and speed limits and controls are powerful actions in reducing the severity of accidents. However, “urban speed limits are rarely enforced, as traffic police rarely have the means or the incentive to enforce speed limits”.
6.7.4. Speed limits on main roads can be enforced by the traffic police by various means direct measurement by radar guns, static or mobile camera enforcement, following vehicle etc. There is no doubt that in many developing cities, speed limit enforcement is ineffective and traffic police programs are needed to improve speed enforcement and the training and equipment needed is discussed in Chapter 5.
6.7.5. Traffic calming can also reduce traffic speeds. As noted in Chapter 2, a traffic strategy should be based on a hierarchy of roads and traffic calming must be related to that
hierarchy. Traffic calming on main roads must be treated differently from traffic calming on lesser roads. On main roads, it would add to accident hazards to introduce some of the more extreme physical traffic calming measures which are used to reduce traffic speeds (see below). However traffic management techniques are available to assist to slow traffic on main roads, including:
a) positive signs and road markings emphasising speed limits;
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