Reducing traffic speeds and car use

Basic Information

Mobility solution ID

10.6

Timeline

- complete

City

Graz

Summary

By lowering speed limits and introducing speed control devices, Graz is making its roads safer for both drivers and pedestrians.

Implementing sustainable mobility

Passenger cars represent the main risk to pedestrians and cyclists. The city of Graz therefore aimed to improve traffic safety by reducing speeds and by raising awareness of the benefits of decreasing car use in favour of more sustainable modes.

Prior to the implementation of this measure, Graz had 30km/hour speed limits on all streets in the city centre apart from streets with the right of way, on which cars were still permitted to go at 50 km/hour. Within the TRENDSETTER project, the speed limit on these streets was reviewed and they were incorporated into the 30km/hour network.

Progress

In order to enforce the new speed limits, 13 new devices were installed along the roads that show drivers their current speed. The devices are moved around each month among 130 specially prepared locations in particularly sensitive areas (e.g. near schools). Evaluations show that automatic feedback helps to keep cars within the speed limit.

Some speed control campaigns were carried out by the police in cooperation with children, who used radar guns to measure the speed of passing cars. Drivers within the speed limit were given an apple, and those above the speed limit were presented with a lemon.

Other activities included an annual car-free day, when certain streets are closed to motorised traffic; organised cycling tours; cycling campaigns among school pupils; and a media awareness-raising campaign.

Outcomes

By the end of measure implementation, 80 percent of all roads in the city centre belonged to the 30 km/hour zone. This has contributed to a big reduction in accidents and noise levels, and to better coexistence between cars, pedestrians and cyclists.

Speed control devices proved to be valuable and simple awareness-raising and speed-reduction tools. Average speed reduction on streets with a 30 km/hour limit was 1 percent, while speeds fell by 9 percent on streets with a speed limit of 50 km/hour. The moving around of automatic speed controls also proved effective in reducing average speeds.

While car-free day remained a valuable awareness-raising tool for the city, the concept behind it was changed to avoid the negative image of a forced shift in transport mode. Rather than closing down large areas of the city centre, in 2004 only sections of streets were closed temporarily.

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