The Scottish Government

November 2006

Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds

International literature review of the costs of road traffic congestion with the main focus on the different methods used to measure the costs of congestion

Congestion in Scotland was summarised based upon analysis of the Scottish Household Survey data. Congestion is widely understood but rarely defined, so a summary was made of different definitions of congestion and how it has been measured. The main focus was to report on the different methods used to measure the costs of congestion. Finally an outline was given on the link between economic growth and congestion ('decoupling').

November 2006

Steer Davies Gleave, Dr Tom Rye and Dr Dermot Gorman

To carry out a review of joined up policy and practice in health and transport: the focus was on opportunities for healthcare professionals and transport planners to work together to create mutually beneficial outcomes, particularly in the achievement of sustainable transport and health improvement objectives through the promotion of physical activity. The research explored the growing links between transport and health at policy and practice levels, to learn from what has already been achieved in this field in Scotland and elsewhere. The work focused on transport's links with improvements to public health, and not on access to healthcare facilities.

Recommendations on how joined up working can be promoted further in the future have been made.

September 2006

Atkins

To determine the availability of information which is required by disabled people when planning a journey using public transport. The purpose was to improve the level of service provided by government supported multi-modal journey planning and information services, such as Transport Direct and Traveline Scotland, to people with a disability.

The research provides details of 'essential' pre- travel information for disabled people, analysis of the extent to which this data is currently available and finally provides details of how further data may be collected and stored most effectively.

August 2006

Colin Buchanan

This is the fourth in a series of surveys aimed at assessing passenger satisfaction with local bus services throughout Scotland.

The 2005 Bus Passenger Satisfaction Survey found that satisfaction is high across Scotland with ratings for the overall service indicating that the average passenger is more than 'satisfied'. Satisfaction levels of people 60 and over are particularly high, particularly with 'value for money', and the 'ease of paying the fare'. The one aspect where satisfaction has shown a significant decrease overall, from 2002 to 2005 is 'value for money' which is now at its lowest level, although even this is still at a relatively high level of satisfaction compared with other service aspects.

August 2006

Ipsos MORI

To establish the extent to which Traveline Scotland has contributed to modal shift.

The research provided a profile of Traveline Scotland users including travel patterns and attitudes towards public transport. For all journey types, public transport use increased and car use decreased after contacting Traveline Scotland. The research concludes that the receipt of travel information prior to making a journey can help facilitate a shift to public transport, while recognising that there can be many contributing factors to the decision-making process.

August 2006

MVA Consultancy

To investigate the pattern and prevalence of long distance commuting in Scotland by analysis of Scottish Household Survey ( SHS), Census and other relevant data, transport modelling techniques and focus group research.

The research suggested that it may be more cost-effective to target shorter-distance car commuter road users (on account of the greater difficulty of offering acceptable public transport alternatives to the car long distance commuter); and if aiming to encourage existing long distance car commuters to commute in more sustainable ways then the greatest prospects may be through investment in the rail network, Park and Ride sites, car sharing schemes and encouraging home working.

July 2006

Ipsos MORI, Centre for Drugs Misuse at Glasgow University, Transport Research Institute, Napier University

To investigate the prevalence and social context of drug driving.

The research suggests that there has been no significant change in drug driving between the prevalence recorded in 2000 and that recorded in 2005, however, it is likely that the figures reflect a degree of under-reporting. Two main explanations for drug driving emerged: convenience and lack of deterrents. Most drug drivers do not believe that drugs have an adverse effect on their driving and most drivers do not think there is a significant risk of being caught by the police. In addition, if they are stopped by police, the overwhelming opinion is that there are not effective enough tests for detecting whether someone has been taking drugs or not.

July 2006

Carole Millar Research

To investigate the feasibility of developing a national Road Safety Charter, with the aims of: identifying the successful components of existing charter schemes; exploring the feasibility of developing a Road Safety Charter for primary schools and to provide guidance on its development.

The research found that there was strong support for the concept of a Road Safety Charter for Scotland, the benefits of which included providing a clear framework for road safety tasks, improving co-ordination of road safety education and raising the profile of road safety education. Some potential barriers to implementing the charter centred around the time the initiative would take and whether teachers would be given sufficient support.

July 2006

ODS

To investigate how membership of the Children's Traffic Club in Scotland ( CTCS) could successfully be promoted in areas of high social deprivation.

The study provided a series of recommendations about how uptake of the CTCS could be increased in areas of high social deprivation. It focused on the potential for developing joint working arrangements with other agencies and organisations as a mechanism for raising awareness of and increasing membership of the CTCS.

July 2006

Carole Millar Research

To evaluate Streetsense, a road safety education resource. The study aimed to identify how effectively the Streetsense resource has been distributed; exploring whether primary schools currently use the Streetsense resource and how it is used. It also aimed to identify ways in which Streetsense could be sustained and developed.

The research confirmed that Streetsense is seen as a highly successful road safety education resource used by both teachers and Road Safety Officers. The report recommended that further efforts should now be made to promote the resource on an ongoing basis to increase levels of awareness amongst practitioners.

June 2006

TRL, in collaboration with TRi, Napier University

To analyse attitudes to risk taking and understanding of risks across different groupings of motorcyclists in Scotland in order to inform future Road Safety Scotland campaigns.

The research suggested that road safety campaigns based on using risk as the lever of influence may not be very effective in reducing motorcycle accidents and offered advice on elements for a more widely campaign strategy.

June 2006

Ipsos MORI

To understand the underlying reasons for Edinburgh residents' rejection of the City of Edinburgh Council's Preferred Transport Strategy, which included introducing a road charging scheme.

The research focuses on a number of issues relating to the public's knowledge of, and attitudes towards, the proposed Edinburgh Road charging scheme (congestion charge), alternative road charging schemes and wider issues of car use such as congestion and pollution. Broadly, support for the scheme in the survey reflected the referendum result, with only around a quarter supporting it. The research suggests that residents had made up their minds on the scheme soon after hearing about it - and this was not based on a detailed understanding of the scheme.

June 2006

Halcrow

To provide a clear and detailed picture of travel plan activity throughout Scotland, with a particular focus on local authorities, regional transport partnerships and large employers.

The research highlights that travel plan activity at the time of study was fairly limited within the sample organisations selected, a number of common barriers were identified. Recommendations for increasing travel plan activity included: improving funding and resourcing, increasing awareness of travel planning, offering incentives to take up travel planning and improving co-ordination of activities.

June 2006

Derek Halden Consultancy

To review the considerable amount of research in recent years on the implications of e-working and other ICTs on travel behaviour and traffic reduction in order to improve understanding of potential impact in Scotland.

The study set out the wide range of and at times complicated nature of impacts that need to be recognised. It highlighted that the potential of ICTs to reduce traffic is only likely to be realised if complementary measures to manage travel demand are put in place.

June 2006

East House Research

To explore the feasibility of using peer education in road safety education ( RSE) in secondary schools in Scotland.

The study identified a range of pre-requisites of successful peer education programmes. It also found that educators were the main beneficiaries of such programmes and were seen to increase in knowledge and confidence as a result of taking part. Benefits to the target group of pupils were harder to quantify and there has been no research to date that has indicated that peer education is more effective than traditional educational methods at informing this target group of pupils.

May 2006

Derek Halden, the TAS Partnership and the University of Aberdeen

To review evidence on DRT delivery including the contribution that DRT can make to social inclusion and accessibility, the impact of the pilot DRT schemes and recommendations on how future DRT schemes could be developed in Scotland

The study suggests that DRT plays an important and growing role in the spectrum of transport provision. There are particular user groups which rely on this mode of transport to access the services they require. The report recommends that there are many opportunities to improve current DRT provision, including through better joined up working and delivery. As a result of this research, a guidance document was produced entitled 'How to Plan and Run Flexible and Demand Responsive Transport' ( http://www.scottishexecutive.gov.uk/Publications/2006/05/22101418/0).

May 2006

TNS, TRi and TTR

To explore and assess a wide range of potential improvements to public transport for disabled people, including: availability, accessibility, information needs, affordability, fear of travel and personal barriers to travel.

Findings highlight that key inequalities still exist between disabled and non-disabled travellers and that the considerable majority of disabled adults would like to travel more often than they currently do. The evidence also shows that the problem is multi-faceted in that no one single 'solution' is likely to make a difference to the travel opportunities of disabled people in Scotland. The research recommends that a coherent and comprehensive strategy for achieving equality of mobility should be an integral part of National, Regional and Local Transport Strategies rather being separate or 'add-on'.

February 2006

Atkins and MacLean Hazel

To review National Transport Strategies across developed countries in Europe and elsewhere. The aim of which was to identify good practice and provide a starting point for the development of the National Transport Strategy for Scotland.

The research identifies three 'typical' NTS structures that provide guiding principles: High Level Framework; National Strategy; and Investment Plans. The research concludes with a list of main attributes which can contribute to effective NTSs.

February 2006

Atkins

To review regional transport strategies in the UK. The aim of which was to inform the preparation of draft statutory guidance for regional transport partnerships in Scotland on the development of their regional transport strategies

The report provides comprehensive recommendations for guidance on future statutory RTSs in Scotland, including placing a strong emphasis on delivery and performance management.

January 2006

TNS

To collect information on cycling use and attitudes towards cycling in Scotland that could be compared with previous research conducted in 1997 and 2001.

The research indicates that cycling frequency among adults appears to have increased between 2001 and 2005 to levels similar to those recorded in 1997, with no significant variation in cycling frequency amongst children. The weather, and concerns about sharing the road with motorists remain prevalent barriers to cycling amongst those who currently cycle, as well as those who do not.

November 2005

Colin Buchanan

To find out why there is such a large variation in the casualty reductions being achieved by Local Authorities and to identify good practice which may be more widely adopted to help cut casualties across the whole of Scotland.

The research reveals that local authorities achieving higher casualty reductions tended to demonstrate a number of positive behaviours including: identifying problems and setting targets; developing opportunities for interagency working; identifying priorities; motivating staff; setting SMART objectives; budgeting effectively; using existing road safety resources; adhering to objectives; working with other professionals; evaluating individual initiatives; evaluating road safety programmes and reducing inefficiencies.

October 2005

mruk Ltd

To assess the suitability of a proposed new advertising campaign designed to reduce the number of driving accidents among new, young drivers by increasing awareness of their vulnerability when driving.

Key findings show that young male drivers felt the campaign lacked credibility and was easy to deflect. The campaign failed to clearly demonstrate cause and effect and was perceived by young males to have a parental / authoritarian tone. Future campaigns must depict people and activities that young people can relate to, using a young person's tone of voice and showing serious injuries that have obviously been caused by careless driving. In addition, the financial and legal consequences of being in a car accident should be emphasised.

October 2005

MVA

To use SHS data to summarise the key statistics on current mode choice and perceptions of alternative modes, identifying factors which affect behaviour of travellers in making a mode choice.

The findings from the modal choice research include that there is a strong relationship between mode choice and the relative attractiveness of the car and public transport alternatives. Also for both short and long distances, there was a strong link between the car ownership level of the child's household and the likelihood of them either walking or cycling. The greater the number of cars available, the less likely it was that the child would walk or cycle.

October 2005

A team led by Napier University Transport Research Institute

To examine accessibility of transport and accessibility by transport with particular attention to social inclusion, using data from the Scottish Household Survey.

The research, which focused on car and bus travel, is a useful body of detailed results for future consideration of transport issues. The report demonstrates a clear association between access to a car and people's self-reported well-being. It suggested that the main implication is the need to consider how improvements to the alternatives to car use can substitute for the destination accessibility, speed, autonomy, comfort and convenience that the car appears, from the results of the analyses, to continue to carry.

September 2005

Derek Halden Consultancy

To provide an assessment of the impact of the School Travel Co-ordinator ( STC) Initiative, which was launched in 2003.

Key findings include that the STC Initiative has increased resources for activities that are generally under-resourced by local authorities across Scotland including publicity, joint working with schools and communities and integration of activities across disciplines and between transport functions. Successful areas of delivery and effective ways of working were identified. Recommendations on the support and management of STCs are made.