IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF NON-MOTORIZED ROAD USERS Antida Aversa Automobile 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 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 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

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 : 1 out of : 1 out of 5

Key results of EPCA Results are available on: Promotional videos:

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 Over the period , 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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