Forums » Off duty » News & media » Injuries and fatalities rise by 24% in 20mph speed zones – why?
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Injuries and fatalities rise by 24% in 20mph speed zones – why?
posted at 20/8/2012 10:02 AM BST
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 1443
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 21/5/2013 |
The BBC reported the other day about how there has been a rise in accidents (some of the fatal) in 20mph speed zones in the past year. Whilst at the same time accidents in 30mph zones have gone down by 1%. Any thoughts? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19226144 |
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Re: Injuries and fatalities rise by 24% in 20mph speed zones – why?
posted at 20/8/2012 10:43 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 164
First: 25/11/2008 Last: 20/8/2012 |
I have no evidence for this but I wonder whether it's because drivers and pedestrians alike assume that they're safer in a 20mph zone and therefore don't pay as much attention to what's going on around them? |
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Re: Injuries and fatalities rise by 24% in 20mph speed zones – why?
posted at 20/8/2012 12:02 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1264
First: 13/4/2010 Last: 20/5/2013 |
Good suggestion Jonathan. It also matters what speed the vehicles were actually doing rather than the limit in place. I think the other issues include the fact that there will always be incidents and if you cut a lot of 30mph zones to 20mph zones then inevitably there will be fewer incidents happening in 30mph zones (because there will be less of them) and more happening in 20mph zones (because there will be more of them). Also simply cutting a 30mph zone to 20mph doesn't mean driver behaviour will change - folk may still drive at 30 or more because that is what people do. We have a situation where drivers in the UK habitually exceed speed limits and see nothing wrong in doing so. And limits are least enforced where the impact of enforcement is most needed (i.e. 20, 30 and 40mph zones) whilst we waste time putting speed cameras on dual carriage ways. The fact remains - risk of pedestrian fatality at 20mph is 5%; at 30mph it's 45%; and at 40mph it's 85%. If I was in charge of traffic policy I would have every 20, 30 and 40mph zone rigidly enforced - no exceptions. |
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Re: Injuries and fatalities rise by 24% in 20mph speed zones – why?
posted at 20/8/2012 8:15 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 324
First: 23/12/2011 Last: 3/5/2013 |
In Response to Re: Injuries and fatalities rise by 24% in 20mph speed zones – why?: I have no evidence for this but I wonder whether it's because drivers and pedestrians alike assume that they're safer in a 20mph zone and therefore don't pay as much attention to what's going on around them? Posted by Jonathan Beadle Just what I was thinking. |
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Re: Injuries and fatalities rise by 24% in 20mph speed zones – why?
posted at 20/8/2012 10:04 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2044
First: 12/3/2010 Last: 21/5/2013 |
This report ignores enormous bias in the figures, and gives undue importance to results:
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Re: Injuries and fatalities rise by 24% in 20mph speed zones – why?
posted at 21/8/2012 9:58 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 478
First: 15/11/2008 Last: 21/8/2012 |
Do pedestrians knowing they are in a 20mph speed zone take more risks assuming that they have more time and become a little more care free? That could be a reason for the increase in accidents. Thats no excuse for a driver not adhering to the speed limit, but as suggested already most drivers will exceed any limit imposed anyway. Its just incremental. Another factor is that drivers tend to spend more time checking their speedo than actually watching the road. Given speeds drivers are used to, and I have experienced this too, driving at 20mph feels very slow, so you are always checking your speedo as it feels like you are doing 5mph. |
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