 |  |  |  |
Improving Guidance for Automated Speed Enforcement
Principal Investigator:
Miguel Andres Figliozzi, Portland State University
Summary:
PROBLEM SUMMARY
Fatal and severe injury crashes are on the rise in Oregon with one of the prominent factors being excessive speeding. As many cities and communities expand walking and cycling infrastructure there has been an increase in pedestrian fatalities and speeding is a key factor that rapidly increases the severity of a crash when a cyclist or pedestrian is involved. Although this is a we...
PROBLEM SUMMARY
Fatal and severe injury crashes are on the rise in Oregon with one of the prominent factors being excessive speeding. As many cities and communities expand walking and cycling infrastructure there has been an increase in pedestrian fatalities and speeding is a key factor that rapidly increases the severity of a crash when a cyclist or pedestrian is involved. Although this is a well-known problem, the ability for law enforcement to make substantial interventions to vehicular speeding is limited due to their lack of human resources. Automated speed enforcement (ASE) systems are highly effective to reduce both operating speeds and severe crashes. Despite the overwhelming evidence for ASE systems to reduce speeding ODOT has no guiding documents for where, when, and how to cost-effectively deploy these systems. In addition, it necessary to consider carefully the impacts of ASE systems on equity and the public acceptance.
ODOT OBJECTIVES
With ODOT’s highest consideration being safety, this project aims at creating guidelines for the deployment of ASE systems across Oregon. The guidelines will identify best practices for ASE deployment as well as key variables that contribute to speeding and the conditions that lead to an effective deployment of ASE systems. The guidelines will be developed utilizing an evidence-based approach and will also include recommendations to increase public acceptance and address potential equity concerns.
Funder: Oregon Department of Transportation
Results:
A study led by researchers at Portland State University (PSU) is helping shape the future of speed safety camera use across Oregon. Their report combines national and international best practices to give the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) a clear, evidence-based roadmap for improving statewide speed safety camera guidelines—and potentially informing future state policy.
The project was led by Professor Miguel Figliozzi of PSU’s Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science and graduate research associate Sophia Semensky, working with collaborators from Oregon State University.
Building Safer Streets through Data
The PSU research team gathered data on how speed safety cameras (SSCs) perform in real-world conditions and summarized best practices from cities across the U.S. and abroad, including New York City, Seattle, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., France, and Australia. Their findings will guide ODOT’s next generation of SSC programs.
Portland’s Program Shows Major Gains
A major part of the study looked at Portland’s existing safety camera program, part of the Portland Bureau of Transportation's (PBOT) Vision Zero efforts, where fixed speed cameras have been installed on high-crash corridors. The results were dramatic:
71% decrease in speeding (drivers going 1 mph or more over the limit)
94% decrease in extreme speeding (11 mph or more over the limit)
43% reduction in both total crashes and speed-related crashes
These numbers make a strong case for how SSCs can save lives and prevent serious injuries.
Addressing Equity and Public Acceptance
The research also examined how speed cameras can be deployed fairly and gain public trust. Portland’s existing system includes options like diversion classes for first-time offenders to avoid fines. The analysis showed that 80% of tickets went to drivers passing through a neighborhood—not residents—suggesting the cameras don’t unfairly burden local communities.
Looking to national examples, the team reviewed alternative fine structures designed to make enforcement more equitable. Cities like New York and Seattle have implemented lower or adjustable fines based on income, an approach that Portland could consider if state law allows.
Informing Oregon’s Next Steps
The report offers ODOT practical recommendations for how to expand SSC use responsibly across the state. Key guidance includes:
Choosing locations based on crash data, speed patterns, and equity considerations.
Building public trust through transparency, such as publishing camera locations and outcomes.
Improving operations by setting clear contracts and timelines for vendors.
Targeting repeat offenders through interventions that focus on high-risk drivers.
A Model for Safer Roads
Nearly all studies reviewed in the report show that automated enforcement reduces both speeds and crashes. PSU’s work provides ODOT with a detailed, data-driven plan to expand these systems statewide—helping Oregon move closer to its goal of safer, more equitable roads for everyone.
See More
Project Details
| Project Type: | Research |
|---|---|
| Project Status: | Completed |
| End Date: | September 01, 2024 |