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Photo enforcement of traffic laws -- sifting through the opinions surrounding this current trend

February 15, 2008
By: Will Roberts

We cannot escape them. Photo enforcement devices such as red light and speed cameras are cropping up everywhere. This trend of using traffic cameras for the photo enforcement of traffic laws is becoming more widespread throughout the United States and throughout the world. There are over 1,700 red light photo cameras installed in cities across the United States, and in Great Britain, photo enforcement devices are used in over 6,000 locations.

We will take a brief survey of some of the pros and cons of using these devices for traffic surveillance to determine how effective they really are at improving road safety. There are both benefits and pitfalls which must be addressed for those who would consider themselves a critical thinker in this debate.

Benefits that can be realized by implementing photo enforcement devices

Many officials and motorists believe utilizing speed cameras offer many safety benefits. Two of the biggest benefits attributed to the use of photo radar devices include a reduction in the number of accidents and decreased accident severity. Both of these benefits are described in further detail below.

• Reductions in accidents -- There have been numerous studies conducted that report convincing statistics that reveal the effectiveness of photo enforcement campaigns. For example, an independent study conducted by the Department for Transport reported that personal injury collisions were down as much as 41 percent in areas such as North Wales because of the implementation of speed cameras. A former police superintendent, John Rowling, states, "We have seen a 33 percent drop in personal injury collisions across Mid and South Wales. I know the cameras work." 
  
  In addition, the Cambridgeshire Safety Camera Partnership reported several convincing findings that emerged during 2005, the fourth year of their study. These include:
  
  • 55 percent reduction in the number of vehicles breaking the speed limit at camera sites
    
  • 45.2 percent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured at camera sites
    
  • 1.3% reduction in injury collisions at camera sites
    
• Decreased severity of accidents -- Another positive benefit many see coming from speed camera campaigns is a reduction in the severity of accidents that do occur. High rates of speed are often responsible for increasing the severity of accidents, and any efforts that are successful at reducing overall speed, can directly reduce accident fatalities. A study conducted by the Highways Agency in West London in 1997 reviewed 21 speed camera locations. They noted a 55.7% reduction in fatal accidents, which was directly attributed to the presence of speed cameras.

Pitfalls surrounding the use of photo enforcement devices

Not all drivers are convinced speed and red light cameras are a benefit to our roadways. Many believe they have a negative effect on driving behavior. Some of the common pitfalls noted include:

• Ticketing process is full of flaws -- Automated ticketing of the registered driver of a vehicle leaves room for error. Traffic violations that are issued based on photo radar devices are not able to verify the actual driver of a vehicle. This shortcoming often means the incorrect driver is often held responsible for paying the fine or dealing with the headache of trying to clear the ticket. Another common flaw cited is lost or severely delayed tickets.
  
• Hindrance to good driving habits - While speed and red light camera campaigns are implemented as a way to improve road safety, there are many that believe these devices have the opposite effect. They feel speed cameras can be a real distraction as driver's worry more about looking for speed traps as opposed to paying attention to the road and their surroundings. A group called Safe Speed reports that the negative effects of speed cameras is rooted in the fact that "millions of responsible motorists began to pay more attention to speed limit, speed enforcement, and speed reading." This in turn means drivers have less attention to give to potentially hazardous situations developing on the roadways.
  
• No conclusive evidence to prove effectiveness -- Contrary to published studies that claim otherwise, many motorists believe speed cameras are ineffective at reducing the number of traffic accidents. They believe results have been skewed by pressure from speed camera manufactures and governmental agencies. Groups like Safe Speed and websites like speedcam.co.uk are publishing studies and facts that show a decidedly different side to speed and red light camera campaigns.
  
  In fact, one study done in an area of South Wales that had 191 speed traps installed, revealed that 28 percent of the cameras showed no change or an increase in the number of annual accidents. Click on the following link for more details on this study about the failure of speed cameras in reducing car accidents.

Conclusion

While it does appear there are some positive results that can be realized from the use of photo enforcement devices, it seems the jury is still out. It is hard to draw a definitive conclusion based on the vastly different opinions on the matter. I think it is safe to say that there needs to be some more conclusive studies conducted before more of us are convinced that the positive results outweigh the negative effects of such campaigns.

Also See:  [ LukWerks home security & surveillance camera systems ]
[ Setting up your own video surveillance & home security recording system ]
[ Video surveillance in 2008, CCTV usage trends & emerging technologies ]

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