ABSTRACT
A total of 300 motorists were recruited at public places to answer a self-report questionnaire on a new community-based intervention to enhance road safety. The intervention consisted of a speed-displaying device that was mounted next to the road and was visible to both motorists and the public. The device gives feedback about the current speed of the motorist. The majority of motorists believed these devices influenced compliance with the speed limit. They indicated they approached locations with these devices more slowly than similar locations without such devices. Moreover, they slowed down if they were going faster than the speed limit. They also said that their reaction to the devices was not influenced by whether they were driving in a community where they had friends or in a community where nobody knew them. These results were consistent across gender, age, levels of education, and professions.
Subject(s)
Accident Prevention/methods , Accidents, Traffic/prevention & control , Community Participation/statistics & numerical data , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Health Promotion/organization & administration , Safety Management/organization & administration , Automobile Driving , Germany , Humans , Radar , Safety/statistics & numerical data , Wounds and Injuries/prevention & controlABSTRACT
It is estimated that by 2020 road accidents will rise from ninth to third place in the worldwide ranking of the burden of disease. Traffic calming can reduce road accidents; however, many motorists do not adhere to speed limits. We report on an intervention that can influence many motorists at dangerous sites, where accidents are likely to occur (e.g., near playgrounds, schools). The intervention is a speed-displaying device mounted next to the road (visible to both motorists and the public). Our findings indicate that the device is associated with a significant speed reduction relative to the control condition.
