Synthesis of Speed Zoning Practices

Details

• Creators:
  Parker, Martin R., Jr.
• Corporate Creators:
  Martin R. Parker & Associates
• Contributors:
  Warren, Davey
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Safety and Traffic Operations R&D
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  85th Percentile Speed Regulations Speed Limits Speed Zones Traffic Safety
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/RD-85/096 ; FHWA-RD-85-096
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Right Statement:
  Public Domain
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Technical Report
• Contracting Officer:
  Warren, Davey L.
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Safety and Traffic Operations
• Abstract:
  This research was conducted to examine State and local speed laws, regulations, and current practices for setting speed limits. The information for the study was obtained from a review of the literature and a mail survey of State and local highway officials conducted by a Task Force of the AASHTO Subcommittee on Traffic Engineering. Throughout years of experimentation and observation, little consensus has been reached concerning criteria that should be used to establish speed limits. While the 85th percentile speed is considered as a major factor in all States and most localities, the deviations from the 85th percentile that are used to establish the speed limit can result in an arbitrary limit. The diversities in State and local laws, the lack of national guidelines, and the variety of methods currently in use suggest that non-uniform speed zones are commonplace. There is an immediate need to validate the applicability of existing methods and/or to develop new objective criteria that will lead to establishing realistic speed zones. There is also a need to examine the potential benefits of establishing minimum speed limits. Objective methods for setting speed limits in work zones should be explored. State and local officials also identified the need to determine the effects of raising or lowering speed limits on speed and accidents.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  DTFH61-83-C-00128
• Collection(s):
  Federal Highway Administration
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a65c72e13d4996d5a8633e587390dbceba6cbcd075207dae716733d78e77c5d796e3780af263d532ab40f97c496ce21983e8baf816eb9f2dd6ad6e33eb1de17b
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/88644/dot_88644_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.33 MB ]