Traffic Calmin in Delhi
Translated title
Trafikdæmpning i Delhi
Author
Kallesen, Martin
Term
10. term
Publication year
2006
Pages
139
Abstract
På globalt plan går trafiksikkerheden tilbage, selv om højindkomstlande som de nordiske oplever fremskridt. En WHO-undersøgelse har forudsagt, at trafikulykker vil stige fra den niende til den tredjestørste trussel mod helbredet i 2020. Forskning viser en sammenhæng mellem landes indkomstniveau og risikoen for trafikdræbte: risikoen stiger typisk i lav- og mellemindkomstlande og falder i højindkomstlande. Denne rapport undersøger, om den stigende risiko kan forebygges i lav- og mellemindkomstlande under økonomisk vækst. Et muligt svar er at overføre viden og metoder fra lande med høj trafiksikkerhed til lande med lavere sikkerhed. Her fokuseres på overførsel mellem Norden og Indien med særlig vægt på trafikdæmpning, dvs. vej- og gadeudformning, der sænker hastigheder og mindsker konflikter. To hypoteser om mulighederne for at gennemføre trafikdæmpning i Delhi testes. Studiet anvender den svenske trafikkonfliktteknik – en metode, der analyserer nærved-ulykker i stedet for faktiske ulykker – til at diagnosticere lokale problemer og vurdere potentialet ved teknologioverførsel. Feltstudier blev gennemført på to steder i Delhi (Orthonova og Dilli Haat). Under observationerne blev der udviklet og brugt en subjektiv alvorlighedsskala (observatørens vurdering af, hvor alvorlig en konflikt virker), som anbefales som supplement til trafikkonfliktteknikken. For Orthonova kommenteres et forslag til omdesign, og rødkørsler foreslås reduceret gennem optimering af signalfaser. For Dilli Haat præsenteres et omdesign med trafikdæmpende tiltag som indsnævringer, forvarsling og port-virkning (gateway). På baggrund af de to steder opstilles et overblik over mulige trafikdæmpningstiltag i Delhi. Konklusionerne er: Den svenske trafikkonfliktteknik kan bruges i Delhis blandede trafik. Det var ikke muligt at påvise, at en subjektiv alvorlighedsskala er nødvendig for brugbare resultater, men den anbefales stadig som supplement. Det var heller ikke muligt at fastlægge en ny tærskel mellem alvorlige og ikke-alvorlige konflikter for Delhi. Fodgængerforholdene er ofte utilstrækkelige, og trafikdæmpning kan bidrage til bedre forhold for bløde trafikanter som fodgængere.
Global road safety is deteriorating overall, even as high-income countries such as the Nordic nations see improvements. A study for the WHO projected road traffic injuries to rise from the ninth to the third leading global health threat by 2020. Research links national income levels to the risk of traffic fatalities: the risk tends to increase in low- and middle-income countries and decrease in high-income countries. This report examines whether that rising risk can be prevented in low- and middle-income countries undergoing economic growth. One option is to transfer knowledge and methods from countries with strong safety records to those with lower safety. Here, the focus is on transferring experience between the Nordic countries and India, specifically on traffic calming—street design measures that slow vehicles and reduce conflicts. Two hypotheses about the feasibility of implementing traffic calming in Delhi are tested. The study uses the Swedish traffic conflict technique—a method that analyzes near-misses rather than actual crashes—to diagnose local problems and assess the potential of such technology transfer. Field studies were conducted at two sites in Delhi (Orthonova and Dilli Haat). During observations, a subjective severity scale (observer ratings of how serious a conflict appeared) was developed and used, and is recommended as a supplement to the conflict technique. For Orthonova, a redesign is discussed, and red-light violations should be reduced by optimizing signal phases. For Dilli Haat, a redesign is presented using traffic calming such as lane narrowing, advance warning, and gateway treatments. Based on the two sites, a prognosis for applying traffic calming in Delhi is outlined. Conclusions: The Swedish traffic conflict technique is usable in Delhi’s mixed traffic. It was not possible to establish that a subjective severity scale is necessary to obtain usable results, though it is still recommended as a supplement. Nor was it possible to define a new threshold between serious and non-serious conflicts for Delhi. Pedestrian conditions are often inadequate, and traffic calming can help improve conditions for vulnerable road users, especially pedestrians.
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