The Effectiveness of Traffic Calming Measures in Reducing Road Carnage in Masvingo Urban

Traffic calming is a useful way of controlling speeds where it is unnecessarily excessive and inappropriate for the place and uses in the surroundings, (Taylor et al, 2000). There are high incidents of road carnage in Masvingo urban and its peripheral areas despite the constructed traffic calming measures.The rationality of traffic calming measures was based on the need to improve safety and enhancing quality of life in urban areas and its neighbourhoods. The motivation behind carrying out the research was to assess the effectiveness of implemented traffic calming in Masvingo Central Business District and the high density residential areas of Mucheke and Rujeko. Research methodology used was explanatory research based on formative and evaluation research to gather qualitative and quantitative data. The research found out that speed humps are the most preferred and widely used traffic calming measure in Masvingo City and had managed to reduce road accidents by about 70%. The effectiveness of the traffic calming measures was determined by nature of the problem, local community involvement and the design. In addition to humps, speed tables were found to be significant in reducing road carnage contributing about 5.9%. There is need of a holistic approach in managing road accidents to include all road users. Human error was found to be the major cause of road accidents contributing 94% and animals and road design contributing 6%. It was therefore recommended that the Government must encourage increased activity in programmes of road awareness so as to educate the motoring public about good road ethics. Key words; traffic management, urban safety, traffic calming measures, transport management