Case Study of Automated Speed Enforcement in Rwanda Showed 69 Percent Decrease in Speed Violations at Deployment Sites Compared to Control Sites Without Speed Enforcement.
Statistical Analysis Conducted Using Speed Data of 3,590 Vehicles to Evaluate the Effect of Visible Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras.
Rwanda, Africa
A case-control study of the impact of automated speed enforcement on motorist speeds and speeding violations in Rwanda
Summary Information
Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) programs aim to discourage speed violations among drivers, prevent crashes and reduce injury risks. This study evaluated the impacts of overt speed cameras (i.e., visible cameras) on vehicle speeds compared to hidden camera cases. The researchers used a case-control design to measure the mean speed of vehicles traveling past hidden speed collection devices compared to overt, existing, ASE cameras on national roads in Rwanda, Africa at 16 locations during January and February of 2023. Speed violations were also compared.
METHODOLOGY
This study included a total of 3,590 vehicles, comprising 1,564 cars, 1,136 motorcycles, 356 commercial trucks, and 534 public transport vehicles. Most data were gathered in zones with a 60 km/h (37.3 miles per hour) speed limit. The study used descriptive statistics, mean speeds, the 85th percentile of speed, quantity of speed violations, and the number of vehicles per category exceeding the speed limit and a statistic model to assess differences in mean speed between groups.
FINDINGS
When assessing the odds of a speed violation for each vehicle type, comparing case sites (overt cameras) to control sites (hidden cameras), the results indicated a 69 percent decrease in odds of a violation among cars (i.e., cars are 69 percent less likely to commit a speed violation at case sites compared to control sites), and 88 percent decreased odds among motorcycles.
