Traffic Safety PolicyTraffic Safety Policy of a local AuthorityThe example of the

City of GhentCity of Ghent

Peter VansevenantDirector of Mobility Department

1

City of Ghent (B)City of Ghent (B)The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again.

2

235 000 inhabitants235.000 inhabitants

3

15 643 ha surface15.643 ha surface

4

300 schools300 schools

5

110.000 cycling tripsdper day

6

1000 km roads1000 km roads

7

Traffic Safety for local h i iauthorities

• Engineering

8

Implementation of some 500 traffic safety measures (shifting road axes, traffic plateaus, broadened and bulgingroad axes, traffic plateaus, broadened and bulging

pavements, etc.

9

Introduction of 30 km/hareas in 1,400 densely populated streets and school environmentsschool environments

10

cushions as speed limiting device which have currentlydevice, which have currently been installed in approx. ten

locations

11

Cycling infrastructure along i dmain roads

12

Cycling infrastructure along the waterways

13

Urgent measures at crossroads (Urgency f T ffi S f t )programme for Traffic Safety)

• Based on objective and subjectiveBased on objective and subjective data– Accident analysisy– Surveys in schools and university; user

groups involvement• Identification of 50 crossroads and 30

km. of road to be tackled• Program for implementation• Emphasis on city ring road

14

p y g

Urgent measures at crossroads (Urgency programme for Traffic Safety)programme for Traffic Safety)

15

Traffic Safety for local authoritiesTraffic Safety for local authorities

• Engineering• Engineering• EducationEducation

16

Awareness building/EducationAwareness building/Education

• Large scale campaigns (on 30 km/hLarge scale campaigns (on 30 km/h. areas, against parking offences, etc.)

• Formation of the “Smart on the Road”• Formation of the Smart on the Road Club for Responsible Road UsersW ki ith h l ( h l t l• Working with schools (school travel plan, education, etc. )

CampaignsCampaigns

• Zone-30, only for racers who h h t (2003 2004)have a heart (2003-2004)

• Smaller actions for cyclists, y ,drivers, …

18

Foto bord 1Foto bord 1

19

Tatoe-fotoTatoe foto

20

axelle-fotoaxelle foto

21

Action against double parkingAction against double parking

• In co-operation withIn co operation with neighbourhoods and shopkeepers’ associations

• In co-operation with the city guards and the police department

22

The “Smart on the Road” clubThe Smart on the Road club

• Club of “smart road users”

• Approximately 3,000 bmembers

P l h• People who are prepared to give the correct example and co ect e a p e a dwho are interested in mobility

23• Receive a newsletter every three months

Working with schoolsWorking with schools• Making school Travel plans for all primary g p p y

schools (2001-2006)• School Travel Plans for Secondary schools

f 2007 dfrom 2007 onwards• School Travel Plan:

t i t t G T l– tries to promote Green Travel– makes soft modes more safe (e.g. bike

pool more infrastructure)pool, more infrastructure)– introduces infrastructural improvements

in the school surroundings

24

g– introduces other safety or awareness

devices

School environmentsSchool environments

25

Traffic Safety for local h i iauthorities

• Engineering• Engineering• EducationEducation• Enforcement

26

EnforcementEnforcement

• Control on speeding (20 black spots)Control on speeding (20 black spots)• Cameras against speeding and red

light offences (mainly on city ringlight offences (mainly on city ring road)

• Special actions (against illegalSpecial actions (against illegal parking, speeding in specific areas, including 30 km/h areas)g )– 14 days of warning– Effective enforcement, including fines

Traffic Safety for local h i iauthorities

• EngineeringEngineering• Education

E f t• Enforcement• (En) And so many more!

• ISA (Intelligent Speed Adaptation)• Free night busses• Safety devices for young children

28

ISA-experiment (2001-2003)ISA experiment (2001 2003)

• Goal: to test the feasibility of ISA y(Intelligent Speed Adaptation): performance and its acceptabilityI iti t Cit f Gh t B l i• Initiators: City of Ghent, Belgian Institute for Traffic Safety and public and private partnersand private partners

• 20 systems in private cars, 14 systems in ‘company’ cars, 3 y p y ,systems in buses– about 60 drivers, half private, half professional– cars of the mayor aldermen rector and vice-rectorcars of the mayor, aldermen, rector and vice rector,

president of Volvo

• Semi-open system from IMITA (S), counterpressure on accelerator and

Free night bussesFree night busses

• Six busses from the city heart to theSix busses from the city heart to the outskirts (dep. every 45 min. from 23 30h until 02 30h23.30h until 02.30h

• On Friday and Saturday nightM tl d b l• Mostly used by young people

• Alternative for car driving

30

Promotion of night bussesPromotion of night busses

31

Actions for childrenActions for children• Distribution of free helmets for all three-

year oldsyear-olds• Distribution of free flags for the five-year-

olds• Distribution of safety shirts for the eight-

year oldsyear-olds

32

INFORMATIONINFORMATION

Mobility Department City of GhentMobility Department City of GhentWoodrow Wilsonplein 19000 Gh t9000 GhentTel 09 266 77 70Fax 09 266 77 79e-mail : mobiliteit@gent bee mail : mobiliteit@gent.bewww.gent.be/leven/verkeer

33