The Impact Of Red Light Cameras Automated Enforcement On Safety In Arizona PDF Download

Speeding is recognized as one of the most important factors causing traffic crashes. In 2005, 30% of all fatal crashes were speeding-related (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2005). According to NHTSA, the cost of speed-related crashes is estimated to be $40.4 billion per year (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2005). Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) now exist to reduce speeding-related crashes by enforcing speed limits with camera-based technologies. These enforcement technologies are generically called "speed cameras" and have been effective on municipal streets and arterials in Arizona. The City of Scottsdale began automated enforcement efforts in December of 1996. On October 25, 2005, the Scottsdale City Council approved the nine-month speed enforcement camera demonstration program on a 7.8-mile stretch of the SR 101 segment within Scottsdale. The speed enforcement program (SEP) began on January 22, 2006 and ended on October 23, 2006. The demonstration program on the SR 101 freeway segment in Scottsdale is the first use of the fixed-site photo enforcement equipment on a freeway in Arizona and is believed to be the first in the nation. This study was conducted to estimate the impact of the SEP on traffic safety, speed, speeding behavior, and daily travel time uncertainty. More specifically, the objectives were to estimate: the impact of the SEP on speeding behavior; the changes in mean speed due to the SEP; the impact of the SEP on traffic safety in the enforcement zone; the total travel time impacts; and the economic impacts of the safety effects.