Executive Summary
In Summer 2020, LB Croydon introduced Streetspace LTN measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the national (DfT) and regional (TfL) Streetspace programme.
The measures appear to have reduced personal injury collisions in the LTN area and at its junctions with the main road network by around 70%, against an increase in overall collisions at borough level.
The injury collision rate on boundary main roads was not observed to have increased, and overall the observed injury collision rate across the area (the LTN plus its boundary main roads) is 20% lower than expected.
It is likely that around six or seven injury collisions were prevented over the six month period during which the measures were in effect, and that a similar effect would be observed pro rata in a longer trial.
A strong positive effect on reducing collision rates was observed both within the LTN itself, and at the boundary junctions where minor roads meet the main road network.
However, the short time period that the measures were in place for (just 6 months), and the inability of this study to measure risk exposure (in terms of injuries per person/km walked or cycled), means that these figures are subject to some degree of uncertainty.
A longer trial period backed by detailed traffic counts for both active travel modes (to measure risk exposure) and motor vehicles (to assess traffic volumes and road user behaviour) would provide a more statistically robust result – an 18 month trial would be expected to prevent around 20 injuries across the area road network if the observed trend is shown to be correct.
Given the overall profile of injury collisions on local roads, Streetspace LTN measures cannot be considered a panacea, and further Streetspace trials should be supported by complementary measures to improve safety on main roads – in particular, improved pedestrian facilities at main road junctions.
Continue reading “Croydon Streetspace – Crystal Palace LTN, an analysis of collision data”