United States Department of Transportation
i
Traffic Conflict Studies Before and After Introduction of Red-Light Running Photo Enforcement in Maine
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2006-08-29
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By Garder, Per
[PDF-1.60 MB]
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TRIS Online Accession Number:01034027
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OCLC Number:71292925
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Edition:Final Report
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Abstract:Red-light running is a major safety concern in Maine. It can probably best be reduced by enforcement. This pilot study uses crash data, traffic conflict data, video and field observations of behavior to evaluate the potential effectiveness of photo enforcement in Lewiston and Auburn in Maine. The intent of the pilot study was to demonstrate the need for photo enforcement, to show that it can work in Maine, and to help the legislators make informed, educated decisions on legislation affecting this program, which may include a shift in policy to allow photo-enforcement activities. The ultimate purpose of the activity is to improve safety at intersections, thereby reducing fatalities and injuries. Five signalized intersections in Lewiston-Auburn were outfitted with photographic equipment in the pilot study, which was funded by the Federal Highway Administration, Maine Department of Transportation and the Androscoggin Transportation Resource Center. The equipment vendor operated and maintained the equipment, and viewed photographic images to insure quality. The respective Lewiston or Auburn police departments reviewed each potential violation to determine whether a red light violation had occurred, and issued warning letters to the registered vehicle owners of the offending vehicles. The police were conservative when determining if a red light violation had occurred – likely more violation warning letters could have been issued. Even with some periods with the systems inoperable and the conservative approach, over 4,600 warning letters were issued during the six-month pilot project, resulting in an average of over 5 violations per day for each intersection, proving that red light running is indeed a major problem. For a variety of reasons, the system was not operating 100% of the time. Still, it was shown that automatic enforcement can be used even during Maine’s severe winter conditions. The effectiveness could be further improved with a careful maintenance program. A system that catches only 50% of all offenders would be about 2000 times more effective than today’s enforcement level. A question that has been addressed through this study is whether automatic enforcement, using video and digital camera technology, effectively can reduce red-light running frequencies even if violations only result in warning letters. (Maine law currently does not allow issuing citations based on photographic evidence, so only warning letters were issued to violators.) Observations of red-light running indicate that the violation rate dropped by around 28% between December 2004 (when the system was first installed) and May 2005, when the system had been operational for several months. But it was the infractions that occurred at low speeds and within the first second or so that were reduced. Infractions more than 3 seconds into red and at speeds above 35 mph actually increased. However, it is unlikely that the enforcement system in any way led to this increase in the more serious infractions. It is possible that weather and roadway conditions explain the higher speeds during the later months. Future studies should address that. Conflict and crash data indicate that there were no great improvements in safety between the before period and the period when the system was in operation. Actual fines rather than warning tickets may have produced greater safety effects.
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