Traffic safety and safe routes to schools: Synthesising the empirical evidence
- Published: Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2007
- Authors: E. Dumbaugh and L. Frank
- Date Added: 28 Jan 2013
- Last Update: 28 Jan 2013
Objectives:
To summarise what is known about the substantive safety effects of safety measures which comprise the Safe Routes To School (SRTS) programme. To identify areas where knowledge gaps exist.
Methodology:
Review of substantive research concerning countermeasures associated with the SRTS programme, specifically: sidewalks, bicycle lanes, speed-reducing / traffic calming measures, crosswalks, medians / refuges, active police enforcement, school zone flashers, crossing guards, child education programme, and motorists education programme.
Key Findings:
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Despite potential benefits of the SRTS countermeasures, most of these are presumed rather than known.
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Of those applications with substantive studies, unsignalised crosswalks and motorist education programmes were actually found to have no effect on the incidence of RTIs.
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None of the countermeasures have been assessed specifically to consider child pedestrians.
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These countermeasures are combined in a programme of applications so the cumulative effect may be greater than the sum of the parts.
Themes: safe routes, schools, RTIs, programmes, children
Comments:
This study shows that, in spite of strong anecdotal evidence in support of SRTS as a safety-enhancing programme, very little has been fully researched and understood. There exist gaps around specific countermeasures, and very limited understanding of the effect of combining countermeasures into programmes.
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