IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF NON-MOTORIZED ROAD USERS

Antida AversaAutomobile Club of Italy

Contents

Introduction

The Initiatives of Automobile Club of Italy

Objectives and Methodology of the Projects

Key results

Discussion (Deficiencies and Guidelines)

Conclusion

Introduction Non-motorized road users safety represents a global challenge

needing special attention worldwide. Every year about 1.24 million people lose their lives on the world’s roads and 20-50 millions sustain injuries. Pedestrians and cyclists represent respectively about 22% and 5% of all road traffic deaths

Every year about 7,500 pedestrians and 2,700 cyclists have been killed in UE20 over the decade 2001-2010. While the total number of deaths fell more than 42%, fatalities among pedestrians and cyclist decreased by 39% and by 38%.

Lack of safe infrastructures for pedestrians and cyclists, inadequate visibility and wrong behaviours are some of the key risk factors causing road collisions

The Initiatives of Automobile Club of Italy

The European Pedestrian Crossings Assessment (“EPCA” Project)

Making Cycling Safer (“2 Ruote Sicure”

Project)

Objectives of EPCA to test the safety and quality level of pedestrian crossings in

Europe to share good practices and to highlight better crossing

solutions in the design and management of pedestrian crossings

to disseminate information on safe behaviours among road users

Why a project on pedestrian crossings?

1 out of 4 of pedestrian fatalities occurs on or close to a pedestrian crossing

It’s a matter of behaviours, but safer crossings help better behaviours

The methodology of EPCA aims at assessing the safety levels of single pedestrian

crossing

based on on-site inspections

permits to assign a safety rate to a pedestrian crossing on the basis of its features and to suggest which characteristics need to be improved and a priority list of interventions

The main criteria adopted all users should be allowed to use a pedestrian crossing without putting their life at serious risk

qualitative evaluation, 5 rating classes: Very good (++), Good (+), Acceptable (o), Poor (-), Very poor (--)

The methodology of EPCA

Safety Indicators Objectives

Crossing system

to minimize waiting time of road users needing to cross a road,to ensure sufficient time to cross the road for all categories of road users,to limit exposure ofpedestrians to vehicular traffic (reducing the number ofvehicle/pedestrian conflict points,

Daylight visibilityto ensure during daytime both a clear understanding by road users of the possible pedestrian / vehicle conflict points and a clear visibility of pedestrian crossings, of the vehicular traffic and of pedestrians by drivers.

Night time visibilityto ensure a clear understanding of pedestrian / vehicle conflict points and aclear visibility also during night hours.

Accessibility

to assess whether the access to pedestrian crossing is free from obstacles andfrom possible sources of danger for all categories of pedestrians, included thosehaving moving difficulties (i.e. blind people, mothers with pushchairs)

Key results of EPCA

46 cities 23 European countries 66 tests 660 km covered 800 pedestrian crossings

(from 10 to 15 per each city)

ACI inspectors performed daily and night tests for each pedestrian crossing, taking measurements, pictures, videos

How many crossings failed the test:

2008: 1 out of 82009: 1 out of 62010: 1 out of 5

Key results of EPCA

Results are available on: www.eurotestmobility.com

Promotional videos: www.youtube.it/AciRoadSafety

The main deficiencies Incorrect timing of pedestrian phases at traffic lights,

Missing pedestrian refuge islands in very long crossing sections

Legal or illegal parking of vehicles impairing visibility, Poor maintenance of road surface, of traffic signs and road markings (Daylight Visibility)

Poor lighting conditions and road marking visibility at night (Night-time Visibility)

Obstacles, Lack of ramps / tactile paving reducing accessibility for people with disabilities (Accessibility)

Limited adoption of advanced technologies (countdown devices, etc.)

Guidelines for safe Pedestrian Crossings

The Main Recommendations:

Good visibility between pedestrians and other road users. Good quality of paving materials, good maintenance conditions of road surface,

of road markings and traffic signs. Pedestrian traffic lights: 2 colors, Countdown, Average speed of 0.75 meters per

second, Exclusive green phase for pedestrians or additional flashing light warning drivers of the potential presence of pedestrians crossing the road

Traffic light signals. Use of technological devices, i.e. drivers approaching a pedestrian crossing could be alerted by advanced visual warning of automatic sensors detecting the presence of pedestrians.

Good and safe accessibility for all users. Removal of architectural barriers (Sidewalks with ground level curbs, Tactile paths helping visually impaired, Audible/vibrating signals or tactile devices mounted on traffic lights to assist blind people, special road markings - e.g.: look right/look left - or technological devices - such as moving pictograms at the traffic lights - to help deaf users. The width of the ramp must be not less than 1.20 meters with a gradient not exceeding 8%.)

When, where and how to make a safe and accessible pedestrian crossing

Guidelines for safe Pedestrian Crossings

Avoidance of potentially dangerous situations (Pedestrian safety islands are recommended in the case of more than 3 lanes, but are required if lanes to be crossed are more than 5. Reduction of conflicts between pedestrians and other road users, for example avoiding tramlines to run too close to sidewalks)

Adoption of solutions reducing speed of vehicles approaching pedestrian crossings. In urban areas and in any case where speed limit is 50 km/h raised pedestrian crossings strengthen, also from a physical point of view, the priority of pedestrians with respect to the vehicles in transit and also induce drivers to reduce speed

Lighting. The surface to be illuminated includes the zebra stripes and a further area of 1 meter on the sidewalk. Zebra stripes need a stronger light than the one illuminating the surrounding road surface. Highly reflective traffic signals, road markings and additional devices. A greater use of LED based traffic lights.

Objectives of 2 Ruote Sicure

In Italy, cyclist fatalities show an increase by 10% in the years 2010-2012. Over the period 2001-2012, these fatalities have declined only by 21%, while the total number of road fatalities has reduced by 48.5%.

Bicycles can be an important component of the urban mobility mix. The attraction of the bicycle resides in its specific characteristics: cheap, convenient and environmentally safe mode of transport.

With the project “2 Ruote Sicure”, ACI has carried out a teaching module dedicated to road safety education to children, aged 10 to 12, who use the bicycle not only for fun but also as a mean of transport for the first movements on the road.

The aim of the project is to provide to children the basic rules and proper behaviour to interact safely with the road.

The material for the implementation of the lesson: slides, video, leaflet and “Diploma of Super Hero of Safety".

At the moment, about 1,000 children have already attended the course. Thanks to local Automobile Clubs, involved in the implementation of the project,

the initiative will cover all Regions of Italy.

Conclusions EPCA highlights the great possibility of improvement for pedestrian

crossings throughout Europe and the huge variety of design solutions / regulations which may cause confusion and dangerous situations.

EPCA combines technical implementations with an awareness campaign. Road users need to improve their awareness of the risks involved in sharing part of road infrastructures with other categories of road users and adopt consequent, safer behaviours (the prevention of road traffic crashes needs global measures).

The whole city can benefit from non-motorised transport modes. Governments should give more attention to preventing the negative effects of motorization from falling heavily on road users most at risk, ensuring implementation of a number of safety measures when road infrastructure are designed, constructed or under maintenance, and training courses to young people who have not yet obtained a driving licence.

The key issue of 2 Ruote Sicure, has been to start a module dedicated to road safety education to children who use the bicycles.

In future ACI will develop some guidelines for making road infrastructure safer for cyclists

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