Traffic laws and regulations are constantly coming under review. This is to ensure the safety of both drivers on the road, as well as pedestrians and wildlife. With passenger vehicles including new technological upgrades, these revisions are needed in order for laws to be adapted to suit what the current driving conditions on the road are. Recently, Colorado has announced its decision to introduce speeding cameras onto the state’s highways to control the problem of speeding.
Speeding cameras implemented to reduce accidents
Throughout the US, there are nearly 5,000 speeding cameras implemented. Out of all states, Washington takes the throne for the most number of speeding cameras, with the majority set up in the densely populated metropolitan areas. Washington also gets kudos for innovation, as some of these cameras are built into traffic signs themselves in order to catch more people speeding unbeknownst to them. This is to hold people accountable for speeding with better ease, as if residents knew where the cameras were, they would simply slow down only in these areas and continue speeding in locations they knew did not have cameras.
26 out of the 51 states permit red-light cams. These are automated devices installed at traffic intersections which detect if a vehicle runs through a red light. With a similar purpose to speeding cameras, they are used to ensure safety on the road by making sure that drivers adhere to road an traffic laws. Some states do not permit their use due to concerns surrounding privacy and surveillance rights as well as criticism on how they are used to generate income for municipalities rather than actually keep the roads safe.
Colorado introduces new speeding cameras
As part of the $5 million plan by the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) , speeding cameras are being set up all over the state’s highways to improve road safety. If you are caught speeding, you will be issued a ticket. The amount you owe will be dependent on how much you were speeding by relative to what the speed limit was.
“Speeding is okay until you hurt somebody. It’s not a victimless crime,” said Colorado State Patrol (CSP) Trooper Sherri Mendez.
In Colorado, according to Mendez, speeding is the leading cause of crashes in the state. In 2022, speeding reportedly killed just over 12,000 people throughout the country. The most frustrating thing about speeding, is that is can be entirely avoidable. It is completely dependent on drivers’ moral integrity to not break driving laws no matter the circumstance they find themselves in. In 2024, the CSP investigated 573 speeding-related crashes.
The cameras are expected to be first implemented in construction zones along the highway, as these locations have been identified that fatalities which occur due to speeding in these areas have nearly doubled in numbers between 2023-2024. Floyd Hill is rumored to be the first location where the cameras will be rolled out.
According to Colorado law, drivers must be warned about the presence of speeding cameras at least 300 feet before drivers approach their location. You have a grace period of 30 days if caught speeding, where you will only be issued warnings. However, once this period ends and you are caught speeding again, fines will begin to be issued starting at a minimum amount of $45.
Other states rollout speeding cameras
Recently, Connecticut began rolling out their own speeding camera program to improve road and traffic safety. However, its neighbor New York state has one of the largest automated traffic enforcement programs in the country, specifically in New York City, due to the cities high population density. The program in New York has been growing for over three decades and has reportedly been successful in reducing traffic violations.
