Page 76 - Azerbaijan State University of Economics

Ramiz Babayev: “Traffic growth in the context of economic development - what
traffic calming measures can be taken?”

Surfaces can be textured and coloured using surface treatment and signing;
together, these give drivers an understanding that they are entering a speed-limited
area, for example in villages or town areas. This should be done in such a way that a
driver, when entering (Coughlan, 2005) any area, will understand that this is a place
where people are living (Slinn., et al, 2005). Surface treatment and well signing
would be appropriate methods to be used in residential areas.
3) Vertical deflections
Vertical deflection traffic calming measures usually cover different kinds of
speed humps installed on the roads to reduce vehicle speeds for safety and
environmental protection purposes.
Speed humps, which are made up of asphalt or thermoplastic materials
nowadays, first emerged in the 1980s and, during the 90s; they were commonly
adopted for use throughout the UK (Slinn., et al, 2005) However, emergency
response vehicles and buses can be delayed by up to 10 seconds per road hump, which
has raised some concerns. Thus, it is more appropriate to apply speed cushions on
roads frequently used by emergency response vehicles and bus operators. Speed
humps should be installed in residential areas instead.
4) Horizontal deflections
Another option recommends installing road chicanes to reduce vehicle speeds
in residential areas; these allow a two-way traffic flow with a central island or
pedestrian refuge. Otherwise, if there is low traffic flow on the road, vehicles are
able to proceed through the chicanes with minimal loss of speed (Surrey Country
Council, 2010). However, road chicanes are not always successful; for example, on
st,
October 1 2010, there was accident which ended with loss of life in Cuddesdon
Road, Oxford, due to a chicane on road, the Oxford Mail reports (Allen, 2010)
5) Gateways and entry treatment
Different kinds of tools are being used to change driver‟s perceptions while
entering an area (Slinn M., et al., 2005)
6) 20 mph zones
Generally, it is most convenient to apply 20mph zones in those residential
areas where pedestrians and cyclists are moving daily. Entrances to and exits from
the zones must be supplied with good signs. These have had efficient results as “the
Transport Research Laboratory reviewed results from 250 zones in England, Wales
and Scotland and the outcome is described in TRL Report 215 - Review of Traffic
Calming Schemes in 20 mph zones. The main findings indicated that average speeds
were reduced by 9 mph, and annual accident frequency fell by 60%” (Department of
Transport, 1999)
7) Home Zones and the Woonerf concept

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