CW960500-TR-R001-A-TM-V1SL-RJC.docx Page 1 Road Safety Audit – Preliminary Design Stage 1 Introduction Cardno has been engaged by Dorsett Retail Pty Ltd (‘the Client’) to undertake a road safety audit of a proposed digital sign to be installed on the existing Retravision building at 59 Forrest Avenue, Bunbury (“the Site”). Under the City of Bunbury’s Local Planning Policy: Signage and Advertisements, the City may require a Road Safety Audit to be submitted for assessment as part of any application for development approval. This report is intended to satisfy that requirement. 2 Audit Scope Austroads Guide to Road Safety Part 6: Road Safety Audit (‘Austroads’) defines a road safety audit as a “formal examination of a future road or traffic project or an existing road, in which an independent, qualified team reports on the project’s crash potential and safety performance. ” In this case, the proposed digital sign is taken to be the “future road or traffic project” and this audit considers its potential crash impact and safety performance. As the proposed digital sign is at the Concept stage only, this audit has been undertaken as a “Preliminary Design Stage Audit’ (as defined in Austroads) to consider the relevant locational factors and provide guidance on sign characteristics to minimise any potential road safety risks. Although not applicable to this site, as the proposed sign is not visible from a State Road Reserve, Main Roads’ Policy and Application Guidelines for Advertising Signs Within and Beyond State Road Reserves Clause 5.3.1, ‘Conditions for Advertising Signs beyond State Road Reserves’ policy (‘the Main Roads guidelines’) has been used in this audit as a guide. 3 Site Location The Site is the existing Retravision building located at the street address of 59 Forrest Avenue, Bunbury. The proposed sign will be located on the north wall of the building, facing the intersection of Sandridge Road / Blair Street / Albert Road, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Title 59 Forrest Avenue, Bunbury – Proposed Digital Sign RSA Client Dorsett Retail Pty Ltd Project No CW960500 Date 23 June 2016 Status Revision A Author Sam Laybutt – Senior Road Safety Auditor Discipline Traffic and Transport Reviewer Ray Cook – Senior Principal, Traffic and Transport Office Perth
Transcript
CW960500-TR-R001-A-TM-V1SL-RJC.docx Page 1
Road Safety Audit – Preliminary Design Stage
1 IntroductionCardno has been engaged by Dorsett Retail Pty Ltd (‘the Client’) to undertake a road safety audit of aproposed digital sign to be installed on the existing Retravision building at 59 Forrest Avenue, Bunbury(“the Site”).
Under the City of Bunbury’s Local Planning Policy: Signage and Advertisements, the City may require aRoad Safety Audit to be submitted for assessment as part of any application for development approval.This report is intended to satisfy that requirement.
2 Audit ScopeAustroads Guide to Road Safety Part 6: Road Safety Audit (‘Austroads’) defines a road safety audit as a“formal examination of a future road or traffic project or an existing road, in which an independent,qualified team reports on the project’s crash potential and safety performance.” In this case, the proposeddigital sign is taken to be the “future road or traffic project” and this audit considers its potential crashimpact and safety performance.
As the proposed digital sign is at the Concept stage only, this audit has been undertaken as a“Preliminary Design Stage Audit’ (as defined in Austroads) to consider the relevant locational factors andprovide guidance on sign characteristics to minimise any potential road safety risks.
Although not applicable to this site, as the proposed sign is not visible from a State Road Reserve, MainRoads’ Policy and Application Guidelines for Advertising Signs Within and Beyond State Road ReservesClause 5.3.1, ‘Conditions for Advertising Signs beyond State Road Reserves’ policy (‘the Main Roadsguidelines’) has been used in this audit as a guide.
3 Site LocationThe Site is the existing Retravision building located at the street address of 59 Forrest Avenue, Bunbury.The proposed sign will be located on the north wall of the building, facing the intersection of SandridgeRoad / Blair Street / Albert Road, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Title 59 Forrest Avenue, Bunbury – Proposed Digital Sign RSA
Client Dorsett Retail Pty Ltd Project No CW960500
Date 23 June 2016 Status Revision A
Author Sam Laybutt – Senior Road Safety Auditor Discipline Traffic and Transport
Reviewer Ray Cook – Senior Principal, Traffic and Transport Office Perth
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Site Location
Base Map: Nearmap, December 2015
4 Road Environment and Traffic VolumesSandridge Road and Blair Street are classified as Distributor A under the MRWA Functional RoadHierarchy with posted speed limits of 60 km/h. At the location of the proposed sign, Sandridge Road isdivided by 2.5m median, Blair Street north leg is divided by a 1.7m wide median, and the west leg isdivided by a 2.8m median.
Sandridge Road has two northbound lanes and two southbound lanes with right turning pockets on thenorthbound carriageway and left turn slip lane. Blair Street west and north leg has a left turn slip laneand the north leg has a right turn pocket.
Albert Road is classified as an Access Road with a speed limit of 50km/h. At the vicinity of the proposedsign, there are two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane.
The Sandridge Road/Blair Street/Albert Road intersection is a 4-way signalised intersection with fullycontrolled right turns. Sandridge Road and Blair Street (west) approaches operate with diamond phasingand Blair Street (south) and Albert Road approaches operate with split phasing.
Existing traffic volumes on Sandridge Road at the intersection of Sandridge Road/Blair Street, obtainedfrom the MRWA Traffic Digest are shown in Table 1 below.
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5 Characteristics of Proposed Advertising SignThe location and approximate dimensions of the proposed sign are shown in Figure 2 below. The signwill be attached to the existing building, and be located within the existing building envelope – i.e. notincrease the height or width of the building.
Proposed digital sign placement
Source: Dorsett Retail Pty Ptd
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6 Sign Location and VisibilityThe proposed electronic sign will be an addition to the building façade and will be viewable by drivers andpassengers travelling both westbound on Albert Road and southbound on Blair Street. The sign is locatedwithin 50 meters of a signalised intersection. Figures 3Figure 3 to 8 illustrate the relative visibility of theproposed sign from the perspective of a driver travelling in southbound direction on Blair Street andwestbound on Albert Road.
As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the existing sign is first partially visible to southbound trafficapproximately 250m before the intersection of Blair Street and Sandridge Road. It becomes fully visibleapproximately 200m before the intersection, after the point where drivers have passed the decision pointfor entering the right turn pocket. It is located within a general streetscape of commercial and advertisingsignage and banners, therefore not standing out or particularly attracting the attention of drivers. It wasnoted during the night time site inspection that many of the existing commercial signs are illuminatedalong the entire Blair Street corridor and therefore the proposed sign is consistent with this visualenvironment.
As shown in Figure 6, the sign is first visible to southbound traffic on Albert Road traffic approximately80m before the Sandridge Road intersection, however it is located within a general streetscape ofcommercial and advertising signage, therefore not standing out or particularly attracting the attention ofdrivers. It was identified during the night time site inspection that the street lighting at the intersection isvery prominent and therefore the proposed sign is not anticipated to considerably alter the existing visualenvironment.
Figure 5 and Figure 7 show that the sign is located at a height above the traffic signals and not facingdirectly at the drivers on any approach, therefore it is not within the driver’s sightline to the traffic lightsand to the surrounding traffic movement. In addition, the right turn movements on all approaches are fullycontrolled, which removes any possible risk related to drivers possibly being distracted while performingfilter right turns.
Blair Street view southbound, approximately 250m before Sandridge Road
Location of proposeddigital sign
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Blair Street view southbound, approximately 200m before Sandridge Road
Blair Street view southbound at Sandridge Road intersection
Location of proposeddigital sign
Location of proposeddigital sign
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Albert Road view westbound at approximately 80m before Sandridge Road
Albert Road view westbound at Sandridge Road intersection
Location of proposeddigital sign
Location of proposeddigital sign
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7 Key ConsiderationsThe following section outlines the key road safety considerations relevant to the proposed digital sign, inorder to guide the detailed design of the sign itself and the proposed messages.
7.1 PlacementThe sign will be installed on the face of an existing wall above the road level, and within the propertyboundary. The lateral placement of the sign will be placed approximately 50m from the easternmost laneof Blair Street north leg and 25m from westbound lane of Albert Street.
Therefore, the sign is not at risk of impact from an errant vehicle.
7.2 Size and ShapeThe shape of the sign will be a rectangular of 9m in length and 6m in height, which is within the standardshape for an advertising sign and is not excessively large.
7.3 Sign contentDorsett Retail Pty Ltd has advised that the primary purpose of the sign will be to display promotions andspecials which are available at the Retravision store and the Café Panini.
7.4 Display
To minimise the risk of distracting drivers, it is recommended that the sign display single, self-containedmessages with a dwell time of 40 seconds, consistent with the Main Roads guidelines for 60km/h speedzones.
The duration of transition of one message to another should be set to not exceed 0.1 seconds. Fly-in,fade-out, checker-boarding or scrolling effects should be not used.
The message or advertising on the sign should not use any formats commonly used for traffic control orwarning, incident or traffic management, or road safety, or driver information messages. This includesfont types, colours, and spacing or images that appear similar to traffic signals and/or signs.
7.5 LuminanceThe maximum luminance of the digital sign should be set at the following level based on the time of theday:
> daytime – 6000 cd/m2
> dawn/dusk – 600 cd/m2
> night – 300 cd/m2
As the digital sign is new, it is recommended that the luminance level will be set to half the maximumvalues outlined above and gradually increased to appropriate levels.
7.6 Lettering
Advertisements to be displayed on the sign should be designed to either be read clearly by passingdrivers or be too small to be read by passing drivers. Conforming to these requirements will reduce thepotential for drivers to take their eyes off the road, attempting to read lettering which is too small.
According to the Main Roads guidelines, the appropriate minimum legible letter size for an advertisingsign should be determined by the following calculation.
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Source: Conditions for Advertising Signs beyond State Road Reserves, Clause 4.1.4.1
With operating speed of Blair Street assumed to be the same as the 60km/h posted speed limit and thelateral offset distance from the sign to the furthest driver is approximately 50m from the sign, the minimumlegible letter height is determined to be 810mm. Therefore, the sign messages intended to be read bydrivers should be designed with a minimum letter height of 810mm.
The Main Roads guidelines also recommend that the maximum letter size of additional legend that is notintended to be readable by drivers (e.g. only readable by pedestrians) should be equal to or less thanone-third of the minimum legible height. Therefore, it is recommended that any sign messages notintended to be read by drivers should be designed with a maximum letter height of 270mm.
7.7 ColourThe colour of the digital sign device itself should not use colours that may be confused as a traffic signalor other traffic management devices. In practical terms, this means it is desirable to avoid the use of red,amber or green text on the signs for circular or diamond symbols. If these colours are to be used fortextual messages, then effort should be made to avoid using similar shades.
8 Crash History of LocationThe City’s Local Planning Policy: Signage and Advertisements requires this road safety audit to include“crash history data for the intersection, site or location of the proposed sign…to be calculated andpresented in accordance with Main Roads Western Australia’s Policy and Application Guidelines forAdvertising Signs Within and Beyond State Road Reserves, Appendix C – Crash Rate Calculations.”
The casualty crash rate for the section of Blair Street southbound, Albert Street westbound and theintersection of Sandridge Road, Albert Road and Blair Street has been calculated in accordance with therequirements above and the results are presented in Table 2, with a comparison to the Average andCritical Crash Rates for this type of intersection. A copy of the crash data used for the calculated hasbeen included as Attachment A.
Table 2 Calculation of Casualty Crash Rate
At Sandridge Road / Blair Street Intersection
Casualty Crash Rate 673.97
Average Crash Rate1 694.4
Critical Crash Rate2 697.3
1 Source: Conditions for Advertising Signs beyond State Road Reserves, Appendix C, Table 52 Source: Conditions for Advertising Signs beyond State Road Reserves, Appendix C, Table 9
The results show that the casualty crash rate for this intersection is lower than the average and criticalcrash rate and therefore the proposed sign should not be rejected based on the crash history of thelocation.
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9 Risk Assessment and RecommendationTable 3 below summarises the characteristics proposed digital sign relative to the key road safety factors.
Table 3 Risk AssessmentFactor Level of Risk Comments
Potential distraction todrivers
Low The sign is located above the road level away from driver’s sightline corridor to traffic signals, other vehicles and doesnot restrict sight distance on any approach.The right turns at the intersection are fully controlled and therefore any risk of driver’s being distracted while performingfilter right turns is eliminated.Section 7 of this report makes recommendations regarding luminance, message size, shape and colour, and display tominimise any potential distraction to drivers. If this guidance is followed, the level of risk is expected to be low.
Confusing or dominatingbackground
Low The sign is located within a visual environment which is full of commercial advertising signs, including many signswhich are illuminated at night. Therefore, the proposed sign is unlikely to create a confusing or dominating background.
Obstruction to sightlines Nil The sign is located above the road level away from driver’s sightline corridor and does not block visibility to trafficsignals or other vehicles.
Hazard to errant vehicles Nil The sign is outside of the road reserve and placed above the street level, therefore it is not a hazard to errant vehicles.
As shown in the table above, the level of risk associated with the proposed digital sign is considered to be low.
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10 Summary and ConclusionsCardno has been engaged by Dorsett Retail Pty Ltd (‘the Client’) to undertake a road safety audit of aproposed digital sign to be installed on the existing Retravision building at 59 Forrest Avenue, Bunbury(“the Site”).
Under the City of Bunbury’s Local Planning Policy: Signage and Advertisements, the City may require aRoad Safety Audit to be submitted for assessment as part of any application for development approval.This report is intended to satisfy this requirement.
The key findings of this Road Safety Audit can be summarised as follows:
> The location of the proposed sign is considered to have a low level of risk from a road safetyperspective, being located in a position which does not obstruct any view corridors to trafficsignals, does not obstruct sight distances on any approach will not be impacted by errantvehicles.
> If the content of the proposed digital sign is managed in accordance with the guidance set outin Section 7 of this report, the risk of distraction to drivers is anticipated to low.
> The proposed sign is located within a visual environment which already contains numerousilluminated advertising signs and therefore is unlikely to create a dominating or confusingbackground for drivers.
It is considered that the proposed advertising sign presents an acceptably low level of risk from a roadsafety perspective and should be approved, subject to the following the guidance set out in Section 7 ofthis report.
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Attachment 1 – Crash Data
Report CriteriaSLK CWY0.86 to 1.36 All
Value01/01/2011
31/12/2015
Midblock
All
To Date
Crash Type
Severity
Detailed Crash History
Road2040025 - Albert Rd
Parameter DescriptionFrom Date
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Road SLK CW
Y
TrueDist
LocEndDate
DistError
Intersection Date Day Time Severity CrashNo.
Type LightCond
RoadCond
SpeedLimit
TrafficControl
RoadFeature
RoadAlignment
SpeedFactor
MRNature
Location RUM Unit UnitType
FromDir
ToDir
Veh/PedMove
FirstObject
Hit
SecondObject
Hit
ThirdObject
Hit
2040025 0.92 S 0.92 12/04/2013
Friday 1615 PDOMajor
2013077166
Midblock 50 No Sign OrControl
RightTurn Thru
On Cway 22:OppositeDirn: Thru -Right
Target Car N S StraightAhead: NotOut OfControl
Colliding Car S E Turning:To MakeRight Turn
0.95 S 0.95 04/06/2011
Saturday
1600 PDOMajor
2011808898
Midblock Daylight Dry 50 No Sign OrControl
Straight SideswipeSameDirn
On Cway 42:Manoeuv:LeavingParking
Target Car N S StraightAhead: NotOut OfControl
Colliding Utility W N Unparking:Reversing
1.30 S 1.30 0.00 07/12/2012
Friday 2135 PDOMajor
2012781122
Midblock Dark -StreetLights On
Dry 50 No Sign OrControl
Driveway Curve SideswipeSameDirn
On Cway 56:Overtaking:Into Right Turn
Target Car Turning:To MakeRight Turn
Colliding Overtaking: PassingOn Right
Side
Detailed Crash HistoryTargetImpactPoint
Side
Side
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Report CriteriaSLK CWY1.09 to 1.59 All
Value01/01/2011
31/12/2015
Midblock
All
To Date
Crash Type
Severity
Detailed Crash History
Road2040005 - Blair St
Parameter DescriptionFrom Date
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Road SLK CW
Y
TrueDist
LocEndDate
DistError
Intersection Date Day Time Severity CrashNo.
Type LightCond
RoadCond
SpeedLimit
TrafficControl
RoadFeature
RoadAlignment
SpeedFactor
MRNature
Location RUM Unit UnitType
FromDir
ToDir
Veh/PedMove
FirstObject
Hit
SecondObject
Hit
ThirdObject
Hit
2040005 1.24 L 1.24 0.00 03/03/2013
Sunday 1658 PDOMajor
2013671750
Midblock Daylight Dry 60 No Sign OrControl
MedianOpening
Straight SideswipeSameDirn
On Cway 34:Same Dirn:Same Lane U -Turn
Target Car S S Stopped:PreparedTo Do U -Turn
Colliding Car S N StraightAhead: NotOut OfControl
1.27 L 1.27 06/09/2012
Thursday
0920 PDOMinor
2012673252
Midblock Daylight Dry No Sign OrControl
Straight Rear End On Cway 31:Same Dirn:Same LaneRear End
Target Car S N StraightAhead: NotOut OfControl
Colliding Car S N StraightAhead: NotOut OfControl
1.36 L 1.36 07/12/2012
Friday 1300 PDOMajor
2012247114
Midblock Daylight Dry 60 No Sign OrControl
Curve SideswipeSameDirn
On Cway 37:Same Dirn:Change Lanes -Left
Target Car S N StraightAhead: NotOut OfControl
Colliding StationWagon
S N Overtaking: Cut InFrom Right
1.39 L 1.39 10/03/2012
Saturday
1505 PDOMinor
2012062804
Midblock Daylight Dry No Sign OrControl
Driveway Straight RightAngle
On Cway 47:Manoeuv:LeavingDriveway
Target Car S N StraightAhead: NotOut OfControl
Colliding FourWheelDrive(NotCarDesign)
W S Turning:To MakeLeft Turn
17/05/2013
Friday 1410 PDOMajor
2013714004
Midblock Daylight Dry No Sign OrControl
Curve Rear End On Cway 31:Same Dirn:Same LaneRear End
Colliding Car S N StraightAhead: NotOut OfControl
Target Car S N Stopped:ReasonsUnknown
1.43 L 1.43 05/11/2013
Tuesday
0910 PDOMajor
2013206611
Midblock Daylight Dry 60 No Sign OrControl
Straight Rear End On Cway 31:Same Dirn:Same LaneRear End
Colliding StationWagon
S N StraightAhead: NotOut OfControl
Target Car S N Stopped:To AvoidVeh
1.15 R 1.15 0.00 29/01/2012
Sunday 1040 PDOMinor
2011829503
Midblock Daylight Dry 60 No Sign OrControl
Straight SideswipeSameDirn
On Cway 36:Same Dirn:Change Lanes -Right
Colliding Utility N S Overtaking: Cut InFrom Left
Target Car N S StraightAhead: NotOut OfControl
1.26 R 1.26 0.00 11/04/2013
Thursday
1715 PDOMajor
2013693704
Midblock Dawn OrDusk
Dry No Sign OrControl
Straight SideswipeSameDirn
On Cway 37:Same Dirn:Change Lanes -Left
Target Car N S Overtaking: Cut InFrom Right
Colliding Car N S StraightAhead: NotOut OfControl
13/12/2013
Friday 1545 PDOMajor
2013868192
Midblock Daylight Dry No Sign OrControl
Driveway Straight RightTurn Thru
On Cway 22:OppositeDirn: Thru -Right
Colliding Car N S StraightAhead: NotOut OfControl
Target Car S E Turning:To MakeRight Turn
1.31 R 1.31 03/03/2012
Saturday
1825 PDOMajor
2012048244
Midblock Daylight Dry No Sign OrControl
MedianOpening
Straight No SideswipeSameDirn
On Cway 34:Same Dirn:Same Lane U -Turn
Target StationWagon
N N Turning:To Make UTurn
Side
Rear
Rear
Rear
Side
Side
Side
Side
Detailed Crash HistoryTargetImpactPoint
Rear
Rear
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Detailed Crash HistoryColliding Car N S Straight
Ahead: NotOut OfControl
31/03/2012
Saturday
1550 PDOMajor
2012079431
Midblock Daylight Dry 60 No Sign OrControl
MedianOpening
Straight SideswipeSameDirn
On Cway 38:Same Dirn:Parallel Lanes -Turn RightS/swipe
Target StationWagon
N N Turning:To Make UTurn
Colliding Car N S StraightAhead: NotOut OfControl
1.36 R 1.36 15/10/2012
Monday
1250 PDOMajor
2012213746
Midblock Daylight Dry No Sign OrControl
Straight SideswipeSameDirn
On Cway 37:Same Dirn:Change Lanes -Left
Target Car N S StraightAhead: NotOut OfControl
Colliding N S Overtaking: Cut InFrom Right
1.39 R 1.39 25/07/2012
Wednesday
1345 PDOMinor
2012636126
Midblock Daylight Dry 60 No Sign OrControl
Straight Rear End On Cway 31:Same Dirn:Same LaneRear End
Colliding Utility N S StraightAhead: NotOut OfControl
Target Utility N S Stopped:To AvoidVeh
Side
Rear
Side
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Report Criteria
Value Description065270 BLAIR ST & SANDRIDGE RD & ALBERT RD
01/01/2011
31/12/2015
All
AllSeverity
Detailed Crash History
ParameterIntersection
From Date
To Date
Crash Type
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Road SLK CW
Y
TrueDist
LocEndDate
DistError
Intersection Date Day Time Severity CrashNo.
Type LightCond
RoadCond
SpeedLimit
TrafficControl
RoadFeature
RoadAlignment
SpeedFactor
MRNature
Location RUM Unit UnitType
FromDir
ToDir
Veh/PedMove
FirstObject
Hit
SecondObject
Hit
ThirdObject
Hit
2040005 1.59 L 1.59 ALBERT RD &SANDRIDGERD (065270)
06/02/2011
Sunday 1840 Hospital 2011032795
Intersection Dawn OrDusk
Dry 60 IntersectionTrafficLights
4-way Intx Curve No Hit Object On Left VergeAfter LeavingCway
