MEDIA RELEASE
31 January 2007
RTA Ignores Own Report on
School Zone Flashing Lights
For 3 years from 2003 to 2006 the RTA trialled various types of school zone flashing lights. In April 2006 it published the findings in a report available at http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/downloads/finalreport_flashinglights_2006.pdf
Two types of flashing lights on 40kmh signs were trialled (report p.3):
- Type 1 lights which simply consisted of 2 flashing lights.
- Type 3 lights which consisted of 2 flashing lights plus flashing LED's around the "40" numerals.
After statistically analysing the data in every way possible the report concluded (p.65), based on the figures from the largest sample ("Group A"), that Type 1 lights reduced speeds by 50% more than Type 3 lights (see below). Thus whilst the Type 3 lights are very fancy and impressive, they are in fact less effective.
The report further concluded (p.67) that the speed reductions achieved by flashing lights reduced the risk of fatal crashes by 11% (see below).
Q1. Why is the RTA wasting taxpayers' money re-evaluating Type 3 lights in the current 100-school trial, when they are not only less effective according to their own research but are also significantly more expensive than simple flashing lights?
Q2. Given the 11% reduction in the risk of fatal crashes, why is the RTA and government conducting yet another trial of flashing lights rather than urgently installing them at all schools in NSW?
RTA Report p. 65:
5.3 Effectiveness of different types of flashing lights
The analysis revealed that:
- Analysis of Group A information indicated that when control site and other factors are
excluded, Type 1 and Type 3 flashing lights reduced mean speeds by 3.5 km/h and 2.2
km/h respectively. In contrast Type 2 flashing lights were associated with an increase of
1.3 km/h. In all cases the changes were statistically significant (p< 0.05).
- for Group A, Type 1 and Type 3 flashing light caused 85th percentile speeds to reduce
markedly by 6.3 km/h and 4.3k km/h respectively. For Type 2 flashing lights speeds
increased slightly by 0.8 km/h. In all cases the changes were statistically significant (p<
0.05).
RTA Report p. 67:
- Group A - Flashing lights sites
Mean speeds and 85th percentile speeds were reduced by 1.3 km/h and 3.2 km/h respectively
after a 3 to 9-month period of operation by impacts associated with flashing light signage. Each
of the reductions was statistically significant (p<0.05). While these reductions may appear
moderate, research has shown (Nilsson cited in Fildes and Lee 1993) that relatively small
changes in mean speeds result in substantial reductions in crash risk. Based on the reductions
achieved for this group it is expected there would be a:
- reduction in fatal crashes of close to 11%
- reduction in fatal or severe crashes of nearly 8.5%
- reduction in injury crashes of about 6%.
For more information contact
Peter Olsen
0414-538-404
peter.olsen@eds.com