This fall, this city can expect new speeding cameras to be rolled out. When it comes to traffic and road safety, curbing excessive speeding is a major concern for local governments and law enforcement. With approximately one third of road accident fatalities and serious injuries occurring due to a speeding driver, interventions to stamp out the practice are continuously on the rollout in order to keep all road users safe; and automated technology is on the ride to assist with this.
Curbing speeding to keep the roads safe
Speeding remains one of the largest contributors for road accidents not just in the US, but globally. Interventions to encourage safe driving practice have been identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) which have not only helped to discourage reckless driving and bad speeding habits, but also to ensure that all drivers and road users continue to follow the laws of the road.
“The use of seat-belts, helmets and child restraints, the report showed, has saved thousands of lives. The introduction of speed limits, the creation of safer infrastructure, the enforcement of limits on blood alcohol concentration (BAC) while driving, and improvements in vehicle safety are all interventions that have been tested
and repeatedly shown to be effective,” describes the WHO in Speed Management: A road safety manual for
decision-makers and practitioners (Second Edition) (2023)
One of the most prevalent methods states have used to discourage speeding is implementing significant speeding fines proportional to how far above the speed limit you were driving. Its up to states to determine the severity of the fines, with some states implementing policies which could see you rack up fines worth thousands of dollars, while some are less than a hundred dollars. Further, on top of high fines, some states also have jail time policies for excessive speeders.
This state deploys new speeding cameras
Across the nation, more states are adopting automated camera technology in order to assist law enforcement with catching drivers who are driving over the speed limit. New York in particular has been spear heading this development, already showcasing the largest and most widespread automated camera program in the nation.
In California, the City of Oakland’s official website has outlined their plans for the implementation of up to 18 speed safety camera systems authorized under the passage Assembly Bill (AB) 645. The bill was passed in 2023, and the cameras are expected to be implemented over the fall and winter season later this year. The program will be overseen by the Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT). If caught speeding, fines will begin at $50 for going 11mph over the speed limit. Data of road traffic accidents was collected across 40 locations in the city in order to narrow down 18 locations to implement the cameras which showcase the most accidents.
More speed curbing initiatives deployed across the nation
With Oakland joining the likes of New York City and other locations with the implementation of speeding cameras, we are also seeing other states tighten their speeding penalties in order to discourage road users breaking the law and endangering the lives of others. In Minnesota, Minneapolis, the city has begun to add speed cameras as part of their ‘Vision Zero’ initiative to reduce road accident fatalities and serious injury to zero.
The pilot program for the cameras rolled out earlier this month, the new automated technology implemented at the following locations: 3rd St. N near 1st Ave N. in Downtown; Fremont Ave N near W. Broadway Ave in Near North; 18th Ave NE near Central Ave NE in Northeast; Chicago Ave near Franklin Ave E in Ventura Village; and Nicollet Ave near 46th St. W in King Field/ Tangletown. If successful, the program hopes to expand to more locations in the city.
