Do They Work Traffic Safety Cameras Literature Review

1
Do They Work?Traffic Safety Cameras Literature
Review

• Melissa Beard
• Research Analyst
• Traffic Safety Commission

2
Presentation Outline

• Why are we here?
• General Deterrence Theory
• Criticisms
• Railroad Crossings
• School Zones
• Red Lights
• Discontinued Use
• Confounding Factors
• Recommendations

3
Why are we here?

• The goal of traffic law is not to apprehend and
  punish violators, but to reduce harm by
  preventing violations. (Leonard Evans)
• Money
• Raise revenues?
• Reduce expenditures?
• Improve safety on our roads
• Less than 1,000 people died in the air, on a
  train or on a bus
• Over 42,000 people died on interstates, state
  highways, city streets or county roads in 2004

4
General Deterrence Theory

• Sure
• Swift
• Severe

5
Criticisms

• Privacy
• Survey results
• Costs to society

6
Railroad Crossings

• 570 Collisions, 45 Fatalities
• Demonstration project in Los Angeles County
• FHWA Report

7
School Zones

• Increasing speed increases probability of a
  pedestrian fatality
• 1 mph reduction 5 crash reduction
• Systematic Review
• Engineering Changes
• Site Selection

8
Red Lights

• Over 100,000 crashes Over 1,000 fatalities
• Systematic Review
• Economic Findings
• Guidelines
• Crash and Red Light Citation History
• Approach Speeds
• Traffic and Pedestrian Volumes
• Intersection Degree of Saturation
• Perceived Benefit to Cost
• Red Light Camera Systems Operational Guidelines
  January 2005 FHWA/NHTSA Publication
• Site Suggestions

9
Discontinued Use

• Virginia
• Long Beach, North Carolina, Tempe
• San Diego

10
Correlation does NOT equal Causation!

• Confounding Factors
• Regression to the mean
• Spillover effects
• Accident migration

11
Recommendations

• Research funding implications
• Develop formalized rating/ranking procedures
• Inform citizens of
• Traffic safety problem in the area
• Advantages of technology
• Distribution of ticket fines
• Program efficiency and effectiveness
• Commit staff and resources for public awareness
• Involve judiciary in planning
• Set quantifiable objectives and goals
• Create uniform evaluation protocol

12
Questions?
13
Contact Information

• Melissa Beard
• Washington Traffic Safety Commission
• mbeard_at_wtsc.wa.gov
• 360-586-3348