Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38719734›Full record

ArticleJournal of epidemiology and community health2024

Effect of 20 mph speed limits on traffic injuries in Edinburgh, UK: a natural experiment and modelling study.

Kyriaki Kelly Kokka, Glenna Nightingale, Andrew James Williams, Ali Abbas, Valentin Popov, Stephen Sharp, Ruth F Hunter, Ruth Jepson, James Woodcock

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of epidemiology and community health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Kyriaki Kelly KokkaMRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK kk704@cam.ac.uk.ORCID 0009-0006-2140-8488
Glenna NightingaleScottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Andrew James WilliamsScottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Ali AbbasMRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Valentin PopovUniversity of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
Stephen SharpMRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Ruth F HunterCentre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-7315-0382
Ruth JepsonScottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
James WoodcockMRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThere is limited research evaluating 20 mph speed limit interventions, and long-term assessments are seldom conducted either globally or within the UK. This study evaluated the impact of the phased 20 mph speed limit implementation on road traffic collisions and casualties in the City of Edinburgh, UK over approximately 3 years post implementation.

methodsWe used four sets of complementary analyses for collision and casualty rates. First, we compared rates for road segments changing to 20 mph against those at 30 mph. Second, we compared rates for the seven implementation zones in the city against paired control zones. Third, we investigated citywide casualty rate trends using generalised additive model. Finally, we used simulation modelling to predict casualty rate changes based on changes in observed speeds.

resultsWe found a 10% (95% CI -19% to 0%) greater reduction in casualties (8% for collisions) for streets that changed to 20 mph compared with those staying at 30 mph. However, the reduction was similar, 8% (95% CI -22% to 5%) for casualties (10% collisions), in streets that were already at 20 mph. In the implementation zones, we found a 20% (95% CI -22% to -8%) citywide reduction in casualties (22% for collisions) compared with control zones; this compared with a predicted 10% (95% CI -18% to -2%) reduction in injuries based on the changes in speed and traffic volume. Citywide casualties dropped 17% (95% CI 13% to 22%) 3 years post implementation, accounting for trend.

conclusionOur results indicate that the introduction of 20 mph limits resulted in a reduction in collisions and casualties 3 years post implementation. However, the effect exceeded expectations from changes in speed alone, possibly due to a wider network effect.

Indexed as

Accidents, TrafficAutomobile DrivingWounds and InjuriesHumansUnited KingdomACCIDENTSEPIDEMIOLOGYPUBLIC HEALTH

Identifiers

PMID38719734
PMCPMC11187370

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.