Abstract
This chapter demonstrates a novel problem-solving approach to study the interaction at an intersection between a driver (turning left) and a cyclist (continuing straight ahead). According to the road rules in the Australian state of Victoria [RR141(2)], the bicycle rider must not ride on the left of a vehicle that is indicating and turning left at an intersection. However, road rules and the built environment were not designed in harmony and there is a high level of confusion about this road rule in the community. Further to these community concerns are professional ones. Previously, road safety and engineering pointed to the law (road rules), as being the source of collisions and injuries from this negotiation. From the position of the law, problems arose concerning how the road rules were applied in a road safety and engineering context. The road space and the road rules are two manifestations of controls and guidance. Safety science has identified that legal considerations are made externally to road engineering, if at all (Nicholls et al. in Cyclists and left turning drivers: a study of infrastructure and behaviour at intersections. Auckland, New Zealand, 2017 [1]). In order to develop solutions to the problem of left turn confusion and conflict, the research team hypothesised that a design approach (Lawson in How designers think—the design process demystified. Architectural Press, Oxford, 2006 [2]) could bring these fields together. The overarching method is the implementation of convivial design techniques [for example see Illich ( Illich in 197 Tools for conviviality. Harper and Row, New York, (1973) [3]), Sanders and Stappers (Sanders and Stappers in Convivial design toolbox: generative research for the front end of design. BIS Publishers, Amsterdam, 2016 [4])] to bring together safety science, legal investigation of road rules, and design. Three specific design techniques were used. First, two-dimensional drawing was tested by the research team. Next, two-dimensional drawings and photographs of key intersection types were combined with three-dimensional scale modelling using LEGO® elements in facilitated discussions with road safety practitioners and experts. The third technique brought road rule considerations to the foreground by encouraging road rule annotation on two-dimensional drawings.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Nicholls, H., Rose, G., Johnson, M. and Carlisle, R.: Cyclists and left turning drivers: a study of infrastructure and behaviour at intersections. In: 39th Australasian Transport Research Forum (ATRF). Auckland, New Zealand (2017)
Lawson, B.: How Designers Think—The Design Process Demystified, 4th edn. Architectural Press, Oxford (2006)
Illich, I.: Tools for conviviality. In: Anshen, R.N. (eds.) World Perspectives, vol. 47. Harper and Row, New York (1973)
Sanders, E.B.N., Stappers, P.J.: Convivial Design Toolbox: Generative Research for the Front End of Design. BIS Publishers, Amsterdam (2016)
Woolley, J., Crozier, J.: Inquiry into the National Road Safety Strategy 2011–2020. https://www.roadsafety.gov.au/sites/default/files/201911/nrss_inquiry_final_report_september_2018_v2.pdf (2018)
Johnson, M.: Cyclist safety: An Investigation of How Cyclists and Drivers Interact on the Roads. Monash University. Thesis (2011).https://doi.org/10.4225/03/5890198046314
McCambridge, J., Witton, J., Elbourne, D.: Systematic review of the Hawthorne effect: new concepts are needed to study research participation effects. J. Clin. Epidemiol. 67, 267–277 (2014)
Johnson, M., Johnston, V., Nicholls, H., Stephan, K., Napper, R., Taylor, W.: Drivers turning left, cyclists going straight: an interdisciplinary study combining behaviour, design and the law to improve safety. In: International Cycling Safety Conference, Brisbane, 18–20 Nov 2019
Chancellor-Goddard, S., Johnson, M.: Cyclists and left turning drivers: the impact of road infrastructure on safety and efficiency. In: 41st Australasian Transport Research Forum (ATRF), Canberra, 30 Sept–2 Oct 2019
McMenamin, G., Johnson, M.: Left turn negotiations between cyclists and drivers: an investigation of safe and legal. In: 41st Australasian Transport Research Forum (ATRF), Canberra, 30 Sept–2 Oct 2019
Norman, D.: The Design of Everyday Things: Revised and Expanded Edition. Basic Books (2013)
Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics. Yearbook 2019: Progress in Australian Regions, p. 262. Canberra (2019)
Bonham, J., Johnson, M., Haworth, N.: On constituting cyclists as ‘hazards.’ J. Transp. Geogr. 84, 102675 (2020)
Dreyfuss, H.: Designing for people. Skyhorse Publishing Inc. (2003)
Tierney, P.: Review of Victorian Cycling Related Road Rules and Legislation. https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/-/media/files/documents/safety-and-road-rules/reviewofvictoriancyclingrelatedroadruleslegislationmarch2015.ashx?la=en&hash=E46A6BEE94671370F802D02D71630D62 (2015)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Napper, R., Johnson, M., Johnston, V. (2021). Safety, Design and Law: A New Interdisciplinary Approach to Bicycle Rider Road Safety. In: Coxon, S., Napper, R. (eds) Advancing a Design Approach to Enriching Public Mobility. Intelligent Systems Reference Library, vol 198. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64722-3_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64722-3_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-64721-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-64722-3
eBook Packages: Intelligent Technologies and RoboticsIntelligent Technologies and Robotics (R0)