A9 HGV 50mph Speed Limit Pilot - Evaluation Final Report Project Reference: 60541545 June 2018 A9 HGV Evaluation Quality information Prepared by Checked by Verified by Deborah Paton, Anne Zimare Adrian Garcia Thorp and Rob Richard Redfern Adam Ruszkowski Sutherland Prepared for: Transport Scotland Prepared by: AECOM Limited 1 Tanfield Edinburgh EH3 5DA UK T: +44 131 301 8600 aecom.com © 2018 AECOM Limited. All Rights Reserved. This document has been prepared by AECOM Limited (“AECOM”) for sole use of our client (the “Client”) in accordance with generally accepted consultancy principles, the budget for fees and the terms of reference agreed between AECOM and the Client. Any information provided by third parties and referred to herein has not been checked or verified by AECOM, unless otherwise expressly stated in the document. No third party may rely upon this document without the prior and express written agreement of AECOM. AECOM 2 A9 HGV Evaluation Table of Contents Glossary ...................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Violin Plots explained .................................................................................................................................................. 7 Key Findings ............................................................................................................................................................... 8 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 10 1.1 The Evaluation ................................................................................................................................... 10 1.2 The Scheme Under Evaluation ......................................................................................................... 10 1.3 Evaluation Approach .......................................................................................................................... 11 1.4 Structure of the Report ...................................................................................................................... 12 2. Defining the Evaluation ................................................................................................................................. 13 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 13 2.2 Evaluation Approach .......................................................................................................................... 13 2.3 Defining Baseline and Ex-post Periods ............................................................................................. 16 2.4 Definition of A9 Treatment Points ...................................................................................................... 17 3. Awareness and Acceptance of the Scheme ................................................................................................. 18 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 18 3.2 What was the level of awareness of the speed limit change among HGV and non-HGV drivers? .............................................................................................................................................. 18 3.3 What is the level of awareness of the ASC among HGV and non-HGV drivers? ............................ 19 3.4 Awareness of other behaviour change programmes ........................................................................ 19 3.5 A9 Signs ............................................................................................................................................. 20 3.6 Summary ............................................................................................................................................ 20 4. Data Analysis (VBV) – Approach and Context.............................................................................................. 21 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 21 4.2 Approach to Vehicle Classification .................................................................................................... 21 4.3 Data processing ................................................................................................................................. 22 4.4 Context - Traffic Flows and Composition .......................................................................................... 23 5. Outcomes – Speed ....................................................................................................................................... 26 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 26 5.2 Average Speed .................................................................................................................................. 26 5.3 Speed compliance ............................................................................................................................. 31 5.4 Market research on perceived impacts on speed ............................................................................. 37 5.5 Summary ............................................................................................................................................ 38 6. Outcomes – Traffic Flow Characteristics and Driver Behaviour ................................................................... 39 6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 39 6.2 Journey times .................................................................................................................................... 39 6.3 Operational Characteristics ............................................................................................................... 41 6.4 Driver Frustration ............................................................................................................................... 48 6.5 Market research findings on the topic of driver behaviour ................................................................ 52 6.6 Summary ............................................................................................................................................ 54 7. Outcomes – Road Safety .............................................................................................................................. 55 7.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 55 7.2 Evaluation questions ......................................................................................................................... 56 7.3 Results Road Safety .......................................................................................................................... 56 7.4 National context ................................................................................................................................. 60 7.5 Results – Risky Overtaking ............................................................................................................... 63 7.6 Summary ............................................................................................................................................ 65 8. Outcomes – Wider Impacts ........................................................................................................................... 67 8.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 67 8.2 Evaluation questions ......................................................................................................................... 67 8.3 Operational impacts on hauliers’ business ........................................................................................ 67 AECOM 3 A9 HGV Evaluation 8.4 Indirect impacts on haulage industry ................................................................................................. 68 8.5 Environmental Impacts ...................................................................................................................... 68 9. Synthesis of Evidence ................................................................................................................................... 69 9.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 69 9.2 Synthesis of evidence across all indicators ...................................................................................... 69 9.3 Acceptance of the scheme ................................................................................................................ 71 Appendix A Market Research – supporting information ........................................................................................... 72 A.1 Methodology .....................................................................................................................................