Project Abstract
"As part of the French government's programme 'Ville plus sure, Quartiers sans accidents' (Safer Town, Urban Areas without Accidents) one of the approach roads to Rennes has been rebuilt. A roundabout has been established together with speed reducing measures such as staggerings and changed road surfaces, and the urban environment has been further improved by objects d'art and plantings."
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A gate formed by a roundabout marks the transition between the highway and city streets.
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Rennes [pop. 200,000] is situated 320 km west of Paris.
"Since 1984 Rennes has been one of the towns that participate in the [French national program] to improve traffic safety and the quality of life in general, with due consideration given to the flow of traffic. The means adopted are conversions of roads, streets, and squares according to certain common guidelines.
Rennes has participated with two schemes: in addition to the redesign of the southern approach to the city...described here, it has also converted a primary artery in the town...
The main objective of the conversion was to lower car speeds. This was achieved by changing the road and its surroundings, which created a clear difference between the highway and the townstreet. With this objective in mind the scheme included, among other things, a pre-warning, a "gate", and a conversion of the road section after the gate. ...
The conversion caused a considerable reduction of car speeds, and the number of accidents involving personal injury on the stretch fell from 2.4 to 1.4 on average per year."
Further Reading:
Approach Road, Rennes, France
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