Citation

Matthews ML. Hum. Factors 1979; 21(4): 503-507.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1979, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/001872087902100412

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The impact of metrication of roadside speed signs upon vehicle speeds was investigated for four different road types using concealed roadside radar. The study was conducted one year after metrication to determine whether there were any long-term changes in traffic patterns in addition to the short-term influences reported previously. There was no evidence for any tendency for drivers to increase traveled speed on roads for which metrication resulted in an increase in the speed limit. Analysis of accident statistics for the month following metrication revealed no significant increase in accident rate over that projected from nine-year accident trends. It is concluded that highway metrication does not present the safety hazard suggested by critics of the metrication program.

Language: en