Contribution of local safety schemes to casualty reduction

Road safety engineering schemes have played an important part in reducing casualties in the last decade.

This study examines the performance of a large sample (408 in number) of the schemes from 2004/05 and quantifies what contribution these schemes made to casualty reduction. The study employed quantitative techniques to assess data from 22 local authorities.

Programmes for 2007/08 were also analysed to assess potential changes in performance and constitution.

This summary report presents the findings of the study, together with recommendations for further improving the value for money offered by road safety engineering programmes.

This report is aimed primarily at examining the economic performance of safety engineering interventions on English non-trunk roads. The overall objective of the project is to increase knowledge to enable future decisions to be made with a sound evidence base.

This report does not identify specific highway authorities and is not aimed at delivering conclusions on the performance of any authority. Similarly, it does not constitute good practice guidance about the optimal utilisation of engineering-related safety interventions and funding.