As part of its Vision Zero initiative NYC DOT Evaluated the Impacts of Speed Cameras Implemented In Speed Zones.
New York, United States
Automated Speed Enforcement Program Report 2014 - 2019
Summary Information
Speeding is a leading cause of fatal traffic crashes. As part of its Vision Zero initiative, the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) implemented a speed camera program, which uses radar and laser technology to measure a vehicle’s speed to provide enforcement that is proven to deter excessive speeding. The speed camera program started in January 2014 and was expanded in 2019 to deploy speed cameras in 750 school speed zones on all weekdays between 6 AM and 10 PM. NYC DOT completed the expansion of at least one camera in each of the 750 zones in June 2020. The system issues Notice of Liability (NOL) to drivers that exceed the speed limit by 10 miles per hour or more and records images of the vehicle and the license plate. The fine associated with a speed camera NOL is $50. This report covers data from the program from its inception through December 2019. Data on crashes and their severity cover the program through December 2018.
METHODOLOGY
The average weekly number of speeding violations from 91 fixed speed zone cameras installed after Summer 2019 was investigated. A before-and-after analysis using data from 95 school speed zones that had cameras installed before 2018 was conducted to measure the change in crashes and injuries in school speed zone camera corridors during hours of operation. Data of an average of the 3 years prior to installation and one full year after installation was used. In addition, the number of violations issued in the first month of each camera’s operation was compared to the number of violations issued at the end of 2019 for nine specified key corridor
FINDINGS
- The average weekly number of violations issued for excessive speeding in the 91 new school speed zones (installed after summer 2019) declined by about 73 percent.
- The before-and-after analysis of the speed camera program revealed a 14 percent reduction of total crashes and 11 percent reduction of total crashes with injuries.
- Total injuries dropped by 17 percent. A 19, 6, and 17 percent reduction was observed in motor vehicle occupant, pedestrian, and cyclist injuries, respectively.
- The speed camera program generated a net revenue of $89,634,243 during fiscal year 2014–2019.
- The program also proved to be efficient as declines in average daily speeding violations during active camera-enforced hours along key corridors were observed to be 66-88 percent.
