Safety and Automated Speed

Enforcement

Unintentional Death Committee (UDC) of

the Child Fatality Task Force

October 15, 2012

Presentation Outline

Crash, Fatality and Speeding Trends

Quick overview of challenges

Evidence for Automated Speed

Enforcement effectiveness

Good program models

NC Speed-related Trends More than 30% of

fatalities year after

year

Speeding Problem

4,000 urban fatalities in 10 years

11,000 rural fatalities in 10 years

At least 5000 of total fatalities were

speeding-related

200 pedestrians and cyclists killed every

year in NC

Changing Behavior

Speed Matters

0v

1v

0v

(From AASHTO, 2010, Highway Safety Manual, p. 3-57).

0v

1v

0v

1 mph

decrease in

average

speeds from

30 mph,

17%

reduction in

fatal

crashes

Speed Matters

But limits and enforcement have lost their

safety credibility

Drivers not getting the message – from

roadway design/operations, enforcement,

adjudication, media (NC Speed & Safety

project and symposium)

Current Status

Enforcement hasn’t kept pace with driving

increases

Likelihood of detection and reliability of

punishment are keys to effectiveness

Habitual speeders difficult to deter with

regular enforcement and court-administered

outcomes

Lack of respect for limits affects urban

environments, pedestrians, safe routes to

school

Pedestrians and Higher Speeds

Automated Enforcement -

International experiences

Widely used tool worldwide

Mobile, covert types: 20 – 25% reduction in

target (SR) crashes area-wide

Fixed, conspicuous: 20 – 25% reduction in

fatal and injury crashes around camera

sites /streets Decina, Thomas, Srinivasan, & Staplin (2007) reviewed 13

international safety evaluations in a report for NHTSA

Australian (NSW) experience

ASE

Belts

Breath-testing

Speed Reductions - U.S.

1 mph reduction average speeds –

Charlotte urban corridors

19% fewer exceeding by 10+ mph

9 to 10 mph reduction – Arizona freeway

4 mph reduction– Montgomery Co., MD

(school and neighborhood streets)*

Reduction from 30% to 10% of total

exceeding by 10+ mph

Crash Reductions – U.S.

Charlotte

- 16 to18% total crashes

- 15% fatal injury crashes

Publicity of the program – resulted in

sustained effect after suspension

Scottsdale, AZ freeway

- 48% in total injury crashes

If ASE widely implemented in

urban areas

3800 fatalities in urban areas in 10 years

1 mph reduction in average travel speeds

could save from 53 to 65 lives in first year

Model Programs

Portland - 1996

Citizens concerned about livability

Transportation system to accommodate all

modes

Traffic calming measures proved insufficient

Staff built support in neighborhoods –

74% for neighborhood use

89% for use in school zones and

88% awareness that photo-radar is a police

enforcement tool

Portland

Initial legislation – enabled a two-year trial

Restrictions, transparency, and administration –

keys to success

New statute requires reporting on the program

each two years

Number of violations decreased by 5.3% while

enforcement hours increased

NCHRP (2012).Automated Enforcement for Speeding and

Red Light Running, Final Report.

Questions?