ROADS Services Training Group

1
ROADS Services Training Group LOCAL AUTHORITY
ROADS CONFERENCE 2014 Reforms, Challenges and
Safety Treacys West County Hotel, Ennis, May
2014.
1
2
Reforms, Challenges and Safety

• Speed Limits

Ken Dowling Project Manager Compass Informatics
John McCarthy Senior Advisor Department of
Transport, Tourism and Sport
3
Reforms, Challenges and Safety

• Speed Limits
• John McCarthy
• Senior Advisor
• Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

4
Speed Limits Review 2013Background

• February 2012 Working Group established
• Tasked -
• To review and make recommendations on the
  existing overall system of Speed Limits
• To review and make recommendations on signs that
  accompany Speed Limits
• To make recommendations on the issue of awareness
  and communication
• To make recommendations on the implementation of
  changes

5
Speed Limits Review 2013Background

• Review Group consisted of a number of Key
  Stakeholders including -
• Department of Transport Tourism and Sport (DTTAS)
• National Road Authority (NRA)
• Road Safety Authority (RSA)
• National Transport Authority (NTA)
• An Garda Síochana
• Local Authorities
• AA Ireland

6
Speed Limits Review 2013Background

• Last review in 2004 -
• Metric Speed Limits
• 100 km/h for National Roads
• 80 km/h for Regional and Local Roads
• Seen as successful

7
Speed Limits Review 2013Background

• Issues arising in relation to -
• Consistency for Speed Limits and Signs
• Appropriateness for Speed Limits and Signs -
• Particularly in relation to -
• Sensible limits for different roads
• Deployment particularly on minor Rural Roads
• Appeals
• Inappropriate Signs
• Road Works

8

• ISSUES

9
Speed Limits Review 2013Issues

• Signs at Interfaces

10
Speed Limits Review 2013Issues

• Entering a bend

11
Speed Limits Review 2013Issues

• Signs in advance of a junction

12
Speed Limits Review 2013Issues

• Inconsistency and Inappropriateness

13
Speed Limits Review 2013Issues

• Inconsistency and Inappropriateness

14

• SOLUTIONS ACTIONS

15
Speed Limits Review 2013Solution

• International Practice (OECD)
• Safe Systems Approach Speed Limits Management
  Framework
• Generic progression -
• Decide on the function of the road within the
  network
• Apply engineering techniques to road
  infrastructure
• Apply a Speed Limit appropriate to the particular
  road
• Apply clear and constant signing of the Speed
  Limits
• Enforce the Speed Limit
• Periodically assess the Speed Limit, and revise
  if required.
• 4 Es Engineering Education Enforcement and
  Economy

16
Speed Limits Review 2013Solution

• Recommended Solution seeks to and address -
• Achieve Safe and Sensible Speed Limits
• Achieve appropriate Speed Limits and signs
• Address the variety and inconsistency of the road
  network
• Single overall plan of consisting of 18 Actions
  -
• 10 Lead and 8 Support
• 2 year initial implementation
• Longer term

17
Speed Limits Review 2013Actions

1. 10 Lead Actions and 8 Support Actions

18
Speed Limits Review 2013Lead Actions

• Replace Speed Limit Signs on Local Roads by a new
  Rural Speed Limit Sign -

19
Speed Limits Review 2013Lead Actions

• Promote greater awareness on Speed Limits and
  Signs.
• Appeals, Oversight Co-ordination
• Update Speed Limits
• - National Roads
• - Regional and Local Roads
• (every 5 years)
• Remove Inappropriate Signs
• Road Works Speed Limits
• Strengthen Speed Limit Guidelines
• Function to Set Speed Limits
• Update Legislation

20
Speed Limits Review 2013Support Actions

• Legislation and Regulations
• Improved Training
• Digital Speed Limit Records Maps and Database
• Engineering Guidelines Standards
• Trial special lower limit zones in Urban and
  Rural areas
• Intelligent Speed Adaption
• Legal Evidence Mechanism
• Detection and Enforcement

21

• ITS GUIDELINES

22
Speed Limits Review 2013Use of ITS and new
Technologies
Digital Records and Maps (MapRoad - GIS and
Database)
Integrating and Sharing ITS
23
Speed Limits Review 2013Use of ITS and new
Technologies
Intelligent Speed Adaption (Dashboard mounted)
Variable Message Signs (VMS) - Driver Feedback
Signs - Periodic Speed Limits
24
Guidelines

• Speed Limits Existing
• Guidelines for the Application of Special Speed
  Limits
• Department Circular (28th February 2011) on
  Special Speed Limits
• All speed limits in each road authority required
  to be logged on Map Road
• Facility already exists on Desktop Version
• Further enhancement of the facility in place
  further to follow.

25
Guidelines

• Speed Limits Assessment Framework
• Introduced as part of 2011 Guidelines for the
  Application of Special Speed Limits
• Standard Methodology for assessing speed limits

26
Guidelines

• Speed Limits Assessment Framework
• Introduced as part of 2011 Guidelines for the
  Application of Special Speed Limits
• Standard Methodology for assessing speed limits

27
Guidelines

• Speed Limits in terms of Mean Speed and Collision
  Rate for -
• Upper Tier Roads
• Lower Tier Roads

28
Guidelines

• Speed Limits Assessment Framework
• UK TRL Spreadsheet

29

• IMPLEMENTATION

30
Implementation

• Oversight
• Minister
• High Level Group
• Working Group

31
Implementation

• Initial Actions now underway
• Update Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 5 - DTTAS /
  NRA
• Update Traffic Regulations for new sign DTTAS /
  NRA
• Development of Speed Limit Inventory App and
  Desktop Solution - LGMA
• Circular regarding inventory for new Rural Speed
  Limit Signs - DTTAS
• Procurement of New Rural Speed Limit Signs
  NRA
• Update of Speed Limit Guidelines Kildare CoCo
• Supports actions 11, 13, 1 and 8

32
Implementation

• Inventory
• Use of MapRoad App and Desktop (Browser) solution

33
Implementation

• Next Steps
• Commence Full Inventory (Signs, Bye Laws) using
  MapRoad App and Desktop Solutions
• Issue New Guidelines
• Develop and Implement Training (Blended Learning)
• Remove Inappropriate Signs
• Update National, Regional and Local Road Speed
  Limits
• Supports actions 11, 13, 1 and 8

34
Implementation

• Training
• Setting and Managing Speed Limits
• Speed Limit Assessment
• All stakeholders such as Local Authorities,
  Gardai and NRA.
• Supports Consistency and Quality
• Performance and Monitoring

35
Implementation

• Performance and Monitoring
• Audit
• Use of Mapping and Performance Indicators
• Inspections

36

• CONCLUSION

37
Speed Limits Review 2013Conclusion

• The Solution seeks to achieve -
• Consistency and Appropriateness
• More Credible and Consistent System of Speed
  Limits
• Road Users better informed and educated regarding
  appropriate speed and Speed Limits
• Improve Road Safety

38
Thank You

• John McCarthy
• Senior Advisor
• Department of Transport,
• Tourism Sport
• johnmccarthy_at_dttas.ie

39

• END