Pace Car Program

Pace Car Programs are initiatives that aim to reduce traffic speeds and encourage safe driving in neighborhoods and cities in the United States and Canada.[1] Willing drivers register an intention to abide by a safe driving code.


Origin

David Engwicht worked with Boise, Idaho to create the first Pace Car Program,[2] "a citizen-based initiative" which has been implemented across the country in cities such as Salt Lake City, Santa Cruz, and Boulder.[3]

Registration

The Federal Highway Administration describes the Pace Car scheme in these terms: "Resident pace car drivers agree to drive courteously, at or below the speed limit, and follow other traffic laws. Programs usually require interested residents to register as a pace car driver, sign a pledge to abide by the rules, and display a sticker on their vehicle".[4]

Pace Car Program cities

Benefits

Benefits of Pace Car Programs have been described as follows:

  • “Pace Car helps slow traffic” [22]
  • “The Pace Car magnet communicates your intentions to other drivers as you model courtesy and safe driving[22]
  • "As more people consider walking and biking to be good options, traffic is reduced, and our streets become safer for everyone” [23]
  • “It puts the responsibility to drive responsibly back on us – the motorists – instead of on our government the police or the traffic engineers. It doesn’t require physical traffic calming structures such as speed bumps and chicanes. This not only saves money, but also is easier for emergency vehicles.” [24]
  • “Speeding takes a heavy toll. In 2000, it was a contributing factor in 29% of the nation's fatal accidents, wrecks that killed 12,350 people, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. More than 20% of those accidents occurred where posted speed limits were 35 mph or less. "Even modestly higher speeds can spell the difference between life and death for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle," Scott says. "The force of impact on a human body is one-third greater at 35 mph than at 30 mph."”

Studies

Residential studies in Columbia, Missouri have determined that Pace Car Programs have reduced speed limits from 30 mph to 25 mph. The Transportation Laboratory estimates "that each one mph reduction in average traffic speed provided a reduction of 6% in vehicle accidents for urban main roads and residential roads"[25]

References
  1. Transportation Research Board (2009). A Guide for Reducing Speeding-Releated Crashes. ISBN 9780309117708. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  2. "David Engwicht - Project for Public Spaces". Pps.org. 2009-06-29. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  3. Transportation Research Board (2009). A Guide for Reducing Speeding-Related Crashes. ISBN 9780309117708. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  4. "A Resident's Guide for Creating Safer a Communities for Walking and Biking - Safety | Federal Highway Administration". Safety.fhwa.dot.gov. 2013-01-31. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  5. "Community Pace Car" (PDF). Baltobikeclub.org. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  6. "The City of Calgary - Community Pace Car program". Calgary.ca. 2010-11-29. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  7. "Cranford Police Department Pace Car Project" (PDF). Cranford.com. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  8. "City of Durham Pace Car Project" (PDF). Douthit.biz. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  9. "Neighbourhood Pace Cars :: City of Edmonton". Edmonton.ca. 2016-12-21. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  10. "El Cerrito, CA - Official Website - Neighborhood Pace Car Program". El-cerrito.org. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  11. ""Pace Car" Program". Lake Heritage. 2017-02-14. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  12. "City of Greensboro, NC : COG Plan and Profile Sheet - DWG format". Greensboro-nc.gov. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  13. "DPW Pace Car Program - Take the Pledge" (PDF). Greenwichct.org. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  14. "Welcome to Village of Hinsdale, IL". Villageofhinsdale.org. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  15. "Welcome to the New Haven Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking". Cityofnewhaven.com. 2005-06-23. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  16. "Pace Cars | Northampton, MA - Official Website". Northamptonma.gov. 2006-06-08. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  17. "Neighborhood Pace Car Project" (PDF). Sanleandro.org. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  18. "City of Rochester's Pace Car Program Asks Drivers to Be Part of the Solution - Reconnect Rochester works to promote transportation choices that enable a more vibrant and equitable community in the Rochester, NY region". Reconnectrochester.org. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  19. "Pace Car Program". walnut-creek.org. 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  20. "Washington, D.C.'s Pace Car pilot program educates drivers | National Center for Safe Routes to School". Saferoutesinfo.org. 2011-02-14. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  21. "West Allis, WI - Official Website". Westalliswi.gov. 2014-05-20. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  22. "Nutley, New Jersey - Pace Car Challenge". Nutleynj.org. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  23. "Nutley, New Jersey - Pace Car Challenge".
  24. "The Salt Lake City Neighborhood Pace Car Project" (PDF). Slcdocs.com. Retrieved 2017-02-24.
  25. "Residential Speed Limit Reduction Case Studies" (PDF). August 2016. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
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