Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess the effects of automatic enforcement on vehicle speeds on the street network in Helsinki. The study design was a before-after study with control sites. The study analysed point speed data at eight locations, based on field measurements and the city’s automatic measurement points. Driving speeds were compared before (September-November 2019) and after (October-November 2022) the installation of automatic enforcement sites.
The proportion of freely driving vehicles exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 km/h dropped by 56% (12% → 5%) after the introduction of automatic enforcement. The effect extended beyond the immediate vicinity of the enforcement site. The proportion of speeding overall dropped by 16% (49%
→ 41%) in the immediate vicinity of the enforcement site. The effects were similar at all sites and at all times of the day.
The average speed of all vehicles on line sections was reduced after the introduction of automatic enforcement. In speed limit zones of 40 km/h, the average speed dropped by 2.1 km/h and in speed limit zones of 50 km/h it dropped by 1.1 km/h. The traffic safety impacts were estimated with the exponential model. According to the results, automatic enforcement could reduce the number of personal injury accidents, serious injuries, and fatalities by 6–16% in these types of locations.
The results were in line with previous studies, although the changes in driving speed were smaller. The results show that automatic enforcement reduces in particular the proportion of excessive speeding.
The proportion of freely driving vehicles exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 km/h dropped by 56% (12% → 5%) after the introduction of automatic enforcement. The effect extended beyond the immediate vicinity of the enforcement site. The proportion of speeding overall dropped by 16% (49%
→ 41%) in the immediate vicinity of the enforcement site. The effects were similar at all sites and at all times of the day.
The average speed of all vehicles on line sections was reduced after the introduction of automatic enforcement. In speed limit zones of 40 km/h, the average speed dropped by 2.1 km/h and in speed limit zones of 50 km/h it dropped by 1.1 km/h. The traffic safety impacts were estimated with the exponential model. According to the results, automatic enforcement could reduce the number of personal injury accidents, serious injuries, and fatalities by 6–16% in these types of locations.
The results were in line with previous studies, although the changes in driving speed were smaller. The results show that automatic enforcement reduces in particular the proportion of excessive speeding.
| Translated title of the contribution | Speed effects of automatic enforcement on the street network in Helsinki |
|---|---|
| Original language | Finnish |
| Place of Publication | Helsinki |
| Publisher | Helsingin kaupunki |
| Number of pages | 28 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-952-386-287-6 |
| Publication status | Published - 23 May 2023 |
| MoE publication type | D4 Published development or research report or study |
Publication series
| Series | Kaupunkiympäristön julkaisuja |
|---|---|
| Number | 2023:17 |
| ISSN | 2489-4230 |
Keywords
- Automatic enforcement
- traffic safety
- driving speed
- automaattivalvonta
- liikenneturvallisuus
- ajonopeus
