Cycling

In 2007, a workshop was conducted at the Department for Transport, and the conclusion was drawn that driver distraction is a significant factor in accident causation, but is neither completely understood nor documented. This Insight Report describes the results of four recent TRL studies in the field of in-vehicle distraction. The scoping study of driver distraction brought together experts in the field to discuss the concept of driver distraction and reach agreement on a definition. The project reviewed observation-based, experimental and opinion-based research and identified a range of research gaps. In terms of experimental research, this Insight Report describes two driving simulator studies that were conducted to examine how mobile phone use affects driving performance. One study showed that reaction times were significantly increased when using a mobile phone compared with a conversation with a passenger, using in-vehicle controls and without any simultaneous tasks. The second study showed that mobile phone use resulted in significantly higher reaction times, even when compared with driving at the UK legal limit for alcohol consumption. Finally, in terms of metrics and measures, this Insight Report describes the research that was carried out in developing the Occlusion Protocol, which is a technique for measuring visual demand.

The Policies and Good Practice Handbook is a reference tool for authorities in preparing and developing their LTPs and will be updated on a regular basis. It is not part of the statutory guidance. Given the number of links, authorities will need to prioritise according to their needs. Although the Handbook is categorised by policy area for simplicity, it is important to note that more can be achieved by linking these policies and work areas to maximise the impacts of the policy intervention as well as budgets.

PERS (Pedestrian Environment Review Software) is a new and dynamic software application to assess the quality of any pedestrian environment. PERS can assist in the identification of opportunities to improve pedestrian walking routes and public spaces, whilst supporting the effective targeting of resources. There is little defined best practice in the evaluation of pedestrian provision: how to prioritise areas for improvement; or what on-street provision is most appropriate and effective. With a standard and consistent methodology PERS is set to change all that. It will help in the promotion of walking as a viable transport option, especially in terms of value to health, sustainability, local economic viability and reduction of car use. Developed by TRL in partnership with Transport for London, PERS creates a systematic framework so that pedestrian provision can be assessed, reviewed and audited.

Being more than just cycle and wallking infrastructure, Greenways truely transform urban areas. This guide covers the philosophy, design and construction of Greenways as multi-user paths for commuting and leisure. The distillation of 30 years of Sustrans' path building experience - the Connect2 Greenway Guide is an indispensible tool for anyone involved in the construction, maintenance and promotion of cycling and walking.

The use of motor vehicles within historic town centres raises many conflicts – vehicle access is essential for the local economy to thrive – but it can detract from the character and amenity of the public realm and cause damage to the buildings. This paper explores how local parking arrangements for different classes of vehicle may mitigate this dichotomy. The nature of historic town centres and the definition of the public realm and its main functions are discussed. The Principles defined by the Historic Towns Forum (HTF) for historic street design and maintenance that are most relevant to vehicles are listed. The changing nature of vehicle use in and through our historic towns is noted and the parking provisions which should be attractive to different classes of vehicle users are analysed.

This toolkit is designed to assist with the development of programmes of road safety measures within a prioritised action programme. It provides valuable information that will assist in the choice of effective ways to reduce road traffic injuries. Whilst it can be used on its own to select measures to address specific problems that have been identified, it is not a substitute for the more systematic approach to road safety management and casualty reduction that is recommended in the World Report. A forthcoming report from the OECD provides detailed guidance on the achievement of targeted casualty reductions using a systems approach.

The Streetscape Guidance report gives advice and information to Transport for London staff who look after the design, appearance and upkeep of London's streets and roads.

This document details the procedures followed by Roads Service when considering implementation of a traffic calming scheme in Northern Ireland

This document outlines Toucan Crossings provided in Belfast along the National Cycle Network, and outlines how a Toucan Crossing functions.

There are some junction locations on roads in Northern Ireland where, because of the high volume of traffic, high numbers of pedestrians or other factors, it is benefi cial to provide a ‘controlled crossing’ such as a Pelican, Zebra or Toucan Crossing. Roads Service is responsible for providing these crossings and they continually receive requests for new ones. They endeavour to act fairly and consistently when deciding which crossings to install to ensure that the limited funding available is targeted at locations of greatest need. This document outlines Roads Service assessment guidance that has been developed to decide crossings provision; which will make an additional allowance for the needs of the more vulnerable road users such as; elderly people, pedestrians with prams, unaccompanied children, visually and hearing impaired people, and people with mobility problems.