Evaluating Speed Enforcement Field Set-Ups Used by Regional Police in Belgium: An Analysis of Speed Outcome Indicators (original) (raw)
Related papers
Safety Science, 2016
Speeding is an important risk factor in road safety and police activities with regard to traffic (safety) are therefore to a large extent focused on tackling this problem. Within this study, researchers from Hasselt University worked together with 3 regional police units to test the effect of two frequently used speed interventions namely a speed control (i.e. stationary police control in an unmarked police car equipped with a mobile radar) with and without an advanced (digital) warning sign alongside the road. The effect of these 2 types of interventions is tested on two road segments of regional roads (with a maximum speed of 70 and 90 km/h), whereby interventions were switched between both roads during the second field experiment. To measure the effect of both methods, the average speed, 85th percentile of speed and odds of drivers exceeding the speed limit were analyzed, mainly by using general linear regression models. Results show for each tested intervention, significant speed reductions during the time that enforcement was in place. Generalizing these results, allows us to conclude that the effect during the speed control with advanced warning sign is larger compared to the speed control only (respectively À4.5 km/h and À2.5 km/h in the V85 speed) and also the continuing effect until one week after the intervention is higher. In the future, we recommend repeating the experiment on more locations, to enhance the reliability and generalizability of the results. To do so, further cooperation between knowledge institutions and field practitioners is advisable.
Study of the Impact of Police Enforcement on Motorists' Speeds
Transportation Research Record, 1999
One method to enforce speed limits on U.S. highways is through the use of police enforcement. One major problem with this approach is the high cost associated with the employment of police officers for patrolling purposes. Thus, the effectiveness of police presence in controlling highway speeds should be carefully assessed prior to making a decision on increasing police patrolling operations on the transportation network. A study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of police presence on the speed of vehicles in a recently increased speed-limit zone and to determine the "halo" effects of police presence (lasting effects when police are gone) on vehicular speeds. Data were collected on Interstate 96 in Ionia County, Michigan. Marked police cars circulated in both directions on the study segment, which was approximately 45 km (29 mi) long. Net speed reductions at a distance of 1.6, 3.2, and 4.8 km (1, 2, and 3 mi) upstream and downstream of each counter were used in the data analysis. Two methods were applied to study the effects of police presence. First, the average speed in the area without the police presence was compared to the average speed after the police presence. Second, the difference between the speed at the place where the police vehicle was positioned and the speed downstream was calculated. It was found that the average speed just upstream of the police car's location was reduced, but as soon as vehicles passed the patrol car, drivers accelerated to their normal speeds or more. Moreover, no "halo" effects on the vehicles at the increased speed zone under study were observed.
Increased police enforcement: Effects on speed
Accident Analysis & Prevention, 1997
Results of a field experiment in which a 35-km long stretch of road was subjected to an increase in police enforcement-mostly as stationary speed controls-are presented. A group of police officers was invited to plan and perform the enforcement based on their own experience and ideas. The level of enforcement reached a daily average of nine hours throughout an enforcement period of six weeks. Speed measurements were done in 60 and 80 km/h speed-limit zones before, during and after enforcement withdrawal, and were compared to another stretch of road. Average speeds were reduced by 0.9-4.8 km/h in both speed-limit zones and for all times of day. For some time intervals, the average speed and the percentage of speeding drivers were reduced for several weeks of the after-period, demonstrating a time-halo effect of eight weeks at most. The percentage of speeding drivers was reduced in both speed-limit zones for all hours of the day except the morning rush hours 6.00-9.00 A.M. It is suggested that commuting drivers in the morning rush hours are most resistant to speed reduction. These results were statistically significant at ~=0.01. 0 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd
Exceeding the Speed Limit: An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Police Intervention
Accident Analysis & Prevention, 1996
Driving too fast is probably one of the main contributors to the occurrence and severity of road accidents, and intention to speed is an important predictor of exceeding speed limits. This study examined the effect of a police intervention on exceeding the posted speed limit (speed of vehicles on the target road) and on intentions to speed (attitude questionnaire). The intervention consisted of a week in which 'police speed check area' warning signs were put up on the target 40 mph limit road, followed by a week of active police presence, followed by a further week in which the signs remained. The speed of vehicles was measured using police data collection equipment for a total of 7 weeks. The effect on the intentions of drivers using the road to exceed speed limits was assessed across age, sex and pre-intervention speeding behaviour using questionnaire measures. Fewer people broke the speed limit during the intervention than before, this effect lasting to a limited extent up to 9 weeks after police activity ceased and 8 weeks after signs were removed. The effect on drivers breaking the speed limit by large amounts was more transient. The intervention reduced intention to speed for subject groupings with high pre-intervention intention. Traffic flow contributed significantly to the variance in vehicle speed, but was not responsible for differences between the weeks, which may therefore be attributed to the intervention. Traffic flow also did not account for differences in speed between the two directions of traffic, which may therefore be attributed to the fact that the road areas preceding the target area in each direction differed in their speed limits (70 vs 30 mph). Intentions to speed, as well as speed adaptation difficulties are thought to contribute to these differences.
Experimental evaluation of municipal speed enforcement programs
1995
... Overall, the research showed that municipal speed enforcement programs can have significant, positive effects on measures of public opinion, traffic safety, and crime. Files: ... PO Box 519 Santa Barbara, CA 93102 USA. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. ...
Comparison of Automated Speed Enforcement and Police Presence on Speeding in Work Zones
2008
This paper compares the effects of four speed management techniques on speed and speeding on interstate highway work zones. The techniques are speed feedback trailer, police car, the speed feedback trailer plus police car, and automated speed photo-radar enforcement (SPE). The effects on mean speed and degree of speeding were studied. The results showed that in both moderately and extensively speeding sites all law enforcement treatments (including variations of police presence and SPE) significantly reduced the mean speeds and degree of speeding. In the moderately speeding site, the Trailer+Police treatment reduced the mean speeds more than the other treatments. It reduced the mean speed of free flowing cars in the median lane by 8.4 down to 48.6 mph, while the other law enforcement treatments reduced it by 6.1 -6.4 mph. In the extensively speeding work zone, the Trailer+Police and the SPE treatments reduced the mean speeds similarly and more than the Police car alone. They reduced the mean speeds in the median lane by 7.8 mph down to 55.9 mph. In the moderately speeding site, Trailer + Police was more effective than the other treatments in reducing speeding. However, in the extensivelyspeeding site, all the law enforcement methods were similarly effective in reducing the speeding; yet 11% to 16% free flowing cars were speeding in median lane by more than 5 mph.
MUARC's Speed enforcement research: Principles learnt and implications for practice
REPORT, 2003
The effectiveness of speed enforcement programs in Victoria has been the subject of a significant volume of research conducted by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC). This report provides a coherent review of MUARC's speed enforcement research to date and highlights the enforcement principles established by the research. The report also examines the practical implications of the research for future enforcement operations.