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Safety Groups Urge More Speed Trap Cameras

Studies find the cameras reduce speeding

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

February 1, 2008

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has completed a study in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the Washington, D.C. suburb of Montgomery County, Maryland that indicates speed cameras are working to slow down motorists.

Both Scottsdale and Montgomery County have reported the cameras have a dramatic impact.

The cameras also raise a substantial amount of money for local governments.

According to the new IIHS study, once the cameras were in place in Scottsdale, the number of speeders dropped from almost 15 percent to 2 percent

In Montgomery County, Maryland, speed cameras are used to enforce limits of 35 mph or less in residential areas and school zones. Since the installation of the cameras, the proportion of vehicles going more than 10 mph faster than the posted limits fell by 70 percent.

The $40 tickets sent to speeders on the Maryland suburb have raised more that $2 million for the county.

Responding to the study, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) said that much can be learned from the Arizona and Maryland experiences. “The Arizona and Maryland cameras are in areas with demonstrated need and public support,” according to the association.

The group urged that more of the speed cameras be set up.

Approximately 35 state and local police departments now speed cameras in their enforcement efforts, according to GHSA.

The GHSA is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans.

IIHS is a safety group funded by the automobile insurance industry.

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