Speeding behavior on urban residential streets with a 30 km/h speed limit under the framework of the theory of planned behavior

• Objectively-measured speeding behavior was assessed under the framework of the TPB.
• The application of the TPB for speeding behavior on 30 km/h streets was supported.
• Perceived appropriateness of the speed limit influenced speeding intention and behavior.
• Perceived right of vulnerable street users was associated with speeding intention.
• Perceived residential street function was associated with speeding intention.

To combat speeding issues on urban residential streets with a speed limit of 30 km/h, it is necessary to identify the determinants as to why this violation has often been committed willingly. The present study employed the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a frame of reference to address this issue. Vehicle speeds were observed individually on two residential street sections both with a 30 km/h speed limit, then a questionnaire survey was conducted to the corresponding drivers. The results based on the sample of 376 Japanese respondents showed that speeding intention significantly associated with objectively-assessed speeding behavior while a number of variables were found as significant predictors of speeding intention. Apart from the factors that have been reported in literature, this study proposed three new context-based variables including perceived appropriateness of the 30 km/h speed limit, perceived function of residential streets, and perceived right of vulnerable street users. The data showed that all of the three variables significantly associated to speeding intention while perceived appropriateness of the 30 km/h speed limit had a direct impact on observed driving speed after controlling for other TPB variables. On the basis of the aforementioned findings, the implications for speeding interventions and related polices were also discussed.