Commenting on the survey, the Minister said: “Roads Service treats road safety as a high priority within its overall programme of work. The implementation of traffic calming schemes is seen as an important means of contributing to improving road safety for all, particularly the elderly, young children and people with disabilities.”
The aim of this pilot survey was to seek more focussed feedback from the public on how well Roads Service performs when implementing traffic calming schemes in terms of planning, consultation, construction and evaluation of their impact.
Almost 3,000 households were surveyed during the exercise and the response rate to the survey was very good, with more than 1,000 questionnaires being returned.
The Minister said he was encouraged that the results of the survey endorsed the work carried out by his Department on traffic calming schemes. He added: “The results of the survey have helped to demonstrate that the public generally sees traffic calming schemes as helping to improve road safety in their areas.”
The Minister gave his commitment to continue to implement traffic calming measures across the North and said he expected that the budget in 2008/09 for these schemes would be in the region of £2.5million.
Notes to Editors:
1. Roads Service traffic management staff were asked to forward at least four traffic calming schemes from each Division. This was to ensure that, assuming a 25% response rate, there would be a large enough achieved sample to provide robust and reliable results. The schemes put forward for the pilot survey were:
Eastern Division
Harberton Park, Belfast
Loopland Park, Belfast
Devenish Drive, Belfast
Silverbirch Area, Bangor
Total - 1,590 households
Southern Division
Lisanelly Lane, Armagh
Brownstown West, Portadown
Scotch Street Village, Portadown
Brentwood Area, Newtownards
Manse Road/Harbour Road, Kilkeel
Ashgrove Area, Newry
Total – 1,392 households
This covered 2982 households in total.
2. The survey questionnaires were delivered, one per household, during the week commencing 22 January 2007 asking for an adult respondent. However, no instructions were given as to which adult should complete the questionnaire. Further questionnaires and reminder letters were delivered during the week commencing 19 February. The deadline for return of the questionnaires was 28 February 2007.
3. This survey was completely confidential.
4. Of the 1,019 respondents, 56% were from the Eastern Roads Division and 44% were from the Southern Roads Division.
5. The full report presents the findings of a household survey, the results of which have not been weighted.
6. Hard and electronic copies of the full ‘Pilot Traffic Calming Survey Report’ are available free of charge from:
Central Statistics and Research Branch,Room 4.10,
Clarence Court,
10 - 18 Adelaide Street,
BELFAST BT2 8GB
Telephone: (028) 9054 0390
E-mail: CSRB@drdni.gov.uk
Website: DRD
7. Should you require this document in an accessible format such as Braille, audio tape, minority ethnic language, large print etc, please contact:
Communications UnitRoads Service Headquarters
Room 229
Clarence Court
10-18 Adelaide Street
Belfast BT2 8GB
Telephone: (028) 9054 0402
E-mail: frank.mcnally@drdni.gov.uk
Website: Roads service
8. Media queries to: Don McAleer, Department for Regional Development, Press Office, Tel 028 9054 0817. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
