Centre Line Removal or non-reinstatement

Davis, Adrian; Tapp, Alan; Warren, Stella

Abstract

In 2018 researchers from the University of the West of England undertook a study which asked the question: What is the impact of Centre Line Removal (CLR) or non-re-instatement on 20mph and 30mph speed limit roads as a contributor to cycle safety? Cycle user perceptions of road danger are significantly a function of driver speed. The sense of danger is substantially increased when speeds driven are above posted 20 and 30mph limits on unsegregated roads. Achieving driver speed limit compliance is, however, very difficult without traffic calming or enforcement. In terms of 20mph speed limits, while there is consistent majority public support in Great Britain (Department for Transport 2012; Tapp et al 2015), driver compliance is more problematic. Moreover, previous UK research has reported that overtaking speeds on 20 and 30mph roads were reduced if there was no centre-line present (Shackel, Parkin, 2014). The literature is not clear as to the causation of lower speeds without centre lines but it may be that cognitive load increases without the certainty of a centre-line so drivers slow in order to gain more time to respond (Murphy, Greene, 2017). Road types are typically village roads and local distributor roads in urban areas which are single carriageway two-way with opposing flows with the centre-line removed or not reinstated.

• Report Type: Project Report
• Publication Date: May 31, 2019
• Deposit Date: Oct 16, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 16, 2019
• Keywords: Centre Line Removal, Road Safety, Cycling Safety
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1676139
• Additional Information: This is a briefing note based on the research carried out by the UWE team and funded by Road Safety Trust.