Road users’ behaviour in the "30 km/h zones". The case study of Bologna

Pazzini, Margherita; Lantieri, Claudio; Vignali, Valeria; Dondi, Giulio; Giovannini, Alice; Mora, Andrea

doi:10.1016/j.trpro.2023.02.201

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The effects of speed reduction are crucial in determining the performance and energy efficiency of TCMs; indeed, not all of these measures achieve the expected success. Some studies have shown that in 30 km/h zones located in an Italian city, motorcycles exhibited significant variations in speeds under high traffic volumes, while heavy vehicles and cars demonstrated only minor changes in speed [29]. The effectiveness of Zone 30 was also examined by [30], whose results indicated that some TCMs had no impact on road capacity.…”

Section: Related Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating Traffic-Calming-Based Urban Road Design Solutions Featuring Cooperative Driving Technologies in Energy Efficiency Transition for Smart Cities

Tumminello,

Macioszek,

Granà

et al. 2023

Energies

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Traffic-calming measures (TCMs) are non-invasive devices designed to improve road mobility and urban areas on a human scale. Despite their potential, they have been in use for a long time and now have to deal with the latest technological innovations in the automotive field, such as cooperative driving technologies (CDTs), to improve energy efficiency in cities. The goal of this study is to explore the safety and operational performances of TCMs featuring CDTs in urban areas. An urban-scale road network close to a seaside area in the City of Mazara del Vallo, Italy, was properly redesigned and simulated in AIMSUN to assess several design solutions, where connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) have been employed as a more energy-efficient public transportation system. Preliminarily, the fine-tuning process of model parameters included CAVs and human-operated vehicles (HOVs) flowing through the network up to saturation conditions. The safety of the planned solutions was tested by using surrogate measures. The micro-simulation approach allowed us to know in advance and compare the operational and safety performances of environmentally friendly solutions involving TCMs and CDTs. These results can also support urban road decision makers in pivoting urban-traffic-calming-based design solutions featuring cooperative driving technologies toward energy efficiency transitions for smart cities.

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Section: Related Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating Traffic-Calming-Based Urban Road Design Solutions Featuring Cooperative Driving Technologies in Energy Efficiency Transition for Smart Cities

Tumminello,

Macioszek,

Granà

et al. 2023

Energies

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“…Reducing speed limits in cities to appropriate levels, such as 30 km/h, can potentially save lives, prevent road crashes, and reduce injuries among all road users. The improvements in both actual and perceived safety and comfort for road users result in positive outcomes across various societal well-being indicators, including safety, health, energy conservation, environmental preservation, accessibility, equality, and economic prosperity [9,10]. Research and scientific evidence suggest that these benefits have direct or indirect economic implications, often quantifiable [11,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of City-Wide 30 km/h Speed Limit Benefits in Europe

Yannis,

Michelaraki

2024

Sustainability

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To date, more and more European cities are systematically working to expand the proportion of their street network with a speed limit of 30 km/h. This paper endeavored to assess the effectiveness of city-wide 30 km/h speed limits in Europe. In an effort to condense research outputs, a quantitative approach along with qualitative assessments were implemented. This study described the changes in safety, environment, energy, traffic, livability, and health before and after the phased implementation of city-wide 30 km/h speed limits. The systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Results from 40 different cities across Europe, including Brussels, Paris, and Zurich, indicated that reductions in speed limits improved road safety by decreasing the likelihood of crash risk and the severity of crashes that do occur. On average, the implementation of 30 km/h speed limits in European cities demonstrated a 23%, 37%, and 38% reduction in road crashes, fatalities, and injuries, respectively. Lower speed limits also yielded environmental benefits, with emissions decreasing on average by 18%, noise pollution levels by 2.5 dB, and fuel consumption by 7%, indicating enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced environmental impact. Encouraging citizens to embrace walking, cycling and utilizing public transit services can further contribute to a safer and environmentally sustainable urban environment.

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