Articles
Governors Highway Safety Association News
New Research Reinforces Effectiveness of Speed Cameras
WASHINGTON,
Speeding-related fatalities continue to be a serious highway safety problem, accounting for approximately 13,000 deaths a year-roughly a third of all traffic fatalities. Despite progress in so many other areas of highway safety, as a nation, little success has been shown at addressing the speeding challenge. There is little public recognition of the problem, and, as noted in the GHSA Survey of the States: Speeding, law enforcement faces numerous obstacles enforcing speed limit laws. GHSA's Survey found that jurisdictions believe increased enforcement of speeding-related laws has become very difficult because of uncertainty in highway safety funding and decreased numbers of officers due to retirements, as well as an increased emphasis on homeland security issues.
GHSA commends
In Montgomery County, Maryland, speed cameras are being used to enforce limits of 35 mph or less in residential areas and school zones. Since the installation of the cameras, the proportion of vehicles going more than 10 mph faster than the posted limits has fallen by 70 percent. Additionally, speeds have fallen by 39 percent on roads where signs were posted warning of overall enforcement but where cameras were not yet operational.
Much can be learned from the Arizona and Maryland experiences. These programs are being operated consistent with the recommendations outlined in the 2005 Report from the National Forum on Speeding. The Forum Report advocates for speed camera programs when they are in place for safety and not for revenue purposes. Additionally, the Arizona and Maryland cameras are in areas with demonstrated need and public support. To reinforce the safety objectives of both programs, extensive signage and media efforts have been conducted to remind the public that they must slow down or face a ticket. As with programs to combat drunk driving and encourage seat belt use, highly- publicized enforcement is absolutely critical to a successful speeding program.
Unfortunately, only approximately 35 jurisdictions in our country use speed cameras in their enforcement efforts. That number must be greatly increased if we are to make any progress at reducing speed-related fatalities. GHSA looks forward to more jurisdictions implementing speed camera programs and hopes to draw further attention to the speeding issue when we hold our 2008 Annual Meeting in
The new IIHS report can be viewed at http://www.iihs.org.
The GHSA Survey of the States: Speeding and recommendations from the National Forum on Speeding are online at http://www.ghsa.org.
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and
SOURCE Governors Highway Safety Association
