Installation of Cameras on Highways and Roads - Research Paper Example

 Installation of Cameras on Highways and Roads Project introduction In most states, the installation of automated speed enforcement cameras has been under debate for a while. In the city of Cleveland Heights, the number of vehicles that violate the posted speed limit is shocking and, as a result, the number of road deaths has been on the rise. The state, therefore, has to act quickly to avoid losing more people on the roads. Every year, hundreds of motorists and pedestrians die on the roads and highways of Cleveland Heights, as a result of over speeding. According to statistics, over speeding has been reported as one of the major cause of all casualty collisions. The rationale behind the enforcement of this project is to reduce the number of accidents casualties, particularly at accident black spots (Marcus Nieto, 1997). A speed camera or a traffic enforcement camera is a camera mounted on roads and highways, to monitor traffic movements on the motorway. These cameras are highly sophisticated to be able to read vehicle registration numbers incase of Highway Code violations. The cameras are able to detect the speed of a moving vehicle, and if found to be over speeding, a call is then made to police patrol vehicles that are waiting nearby. Speed enforcement cameras are highly effective tools for discouraging over speeding and consequently, reducing road accidents. Point-to-point speed cameras, for example, calculate the average speed of a moving vehicle over a stretch of the road or highway and discourage motorists from the habit of speeding up then slowing down near fixed safety cameras to avoid detection. Red light cameras are cameras that are connected to traffic signals and sensors buried at the stop line or the crosswalk. The cameras are highly effective in identifying traffic light violators by continuously monitoring the traffic signals. The red light cameras are especially useful in cities, where they enforce traffic regulations by automatically taking photos of vehicles whose drivers run the red lights. The red light cameras rely heavily on the sensors buried under the stop line, to enforce the traffic laws. The cameras are triggered when vehicles pass over the sensors at a specified time after the traffic lights turn red, and above a pre-set minimum speed. The photograph shows the vehicle of the red light violator at the intersection. The red light camera records the time elapsed since the commencement of the red light, the time, date and vehicle speed. It is estimated that if this project is implemented, the number of fatalities from road accident collisions, in Cleveland Heights, will be reduced by up to 49%. Over speeding is a problem that concerns all road users and the implementation of this project is a step in the right direction (Reid H. Ewing, 1999). Project goal or objective The primary goal of this project is to reduce the number of fatalities that occur due to over speeding, by ensuring that vehicles comply with speed limits enforced on highways and roads. Others include seeking a decrease in danger for all users of the road by identifying and eliminating the principle sources of threat, finding new measures to determine the level of risk on roads so as to monitor the threat and use to benign modes accurately, and pursuing a strategy for environmentally sustainable road travel, based on the efficient implementation of this plan. Too many people die on roads every year, and the costs of these collisions are both personal and economic. The aim of this project is to lower the posted speed limit on the roads and highways in Cleveland Heights, and determine the corresponding outcomes on the level of safety on roads. The city of Cleveland Heights is highly dedicated to reducing the number of road casualties per year and, therefore, this implementation plan sets out how the project will undertake this task. Project approach/methods The installations of the speed cameras on roads and streets in the state of Ohio will be split into four phases: i. Assess and plan ii. Research and Development iii. Pilot testing iv. Implementation Assess and plan – 30 days In this stage, we will identify and assess the requirements and resources needed and devise a strategy to ensure there is a smooth transition. This will include identifying a licensed contractor who will take care of the installation of the speed enforcement cameras, as well as, sensitizing the city about the importance of the cameras. Research and development – 180 days During this second phase, we will identify key areas where the speed cameras are to be located, especially accident black spots. We will also determine the road types and the suitability of concrete measures on these roads. Pilot testing – 30 days In this phase, the speed cameras will be tested to make sure that everything is ready for successful implementation. Adjustments are also made in this phase where needed. This phase allows for a limited implementation of the system, aimed at testing the effectiveness of the speed enforcement cameras on a small scale. Implementation – 60 days In this final phase, the installed speed cameras are tested one last time before being put to work. The system is evaluated for any problems or inconsistencies at this phase before enforcement (Leach, 2005). Project deliverables/expected results By completing the project, we will be able to: i. Reduce the number of collision casualties by up to 49%. ii. Set speed limits in order to reduce road accident casualties over an area. iii. Monitor and analyze collisions in the city periodically with a view of determining suitable locations or accident characteristics suitable for remedial treatment. iv. Investigate the collision characteristics of individual sites, junctions, and lengths of road for the purpose of engineering accident remedial measures. v. Review regularly the performance of such measures and assess the value for money achieved and provide a basis for enabling the police to prosecute those who over speed. vi. Conduct education and training initiatives, especially to vulnerable road users. vii. Guide inexperienced drivers away from exceeding safe speeds and warn drivers of unexpected hazard density. Budget For this project, there are internal application costs for successfully installation and implementation. We collected data on the costs associated with implementation of the speed enforcement cameras in the different areas within the city. These costs include fixed installation costs, as well as recurrent operation costs. These costs were further divided into the red light cameras costs and speed enforcement cameras costs. Red light cameras costs i. One red light camera costs about $50,000. There will be one red light camera for each site. ii. The average recurrent costs for each red light site are about $6,000, and the average fixed installation costs are about $9,200 per year for each site. iii. On average, the number of prosecutions per red light site will be150 with $50 as the average cost per prosecution (a fixed penalty will be enforced for 90% of these offences). Speed enforcement cameras costs i. One speed enforcement camera costs about $65,000. There will be one or two speed enforcement cameras per site. ii. The average recurrent costs for each speed enforcement camera site are about $8,500, and the average fixed installation costs are about $12,500 per year for each site. iii. Each speed enforcement camera site would generate about 400 prosecutions related to over speeding per year. The costs per prosecution will be $30 on average. Other expenses include salaries of employees. Total costs are just over $3.8 million. Assumptions The project assumes that people living in the city of Cleveland Heights are aware that the speed enforcement cameras are being implemented as a means of discouraging drivers from flouting the speed limit, and not a means of punishment. Speed enforcement cameras are remarkably cost effective and the overall benefit that accrues to the city over a period of two years is expected to offset the initial amount. According to a cost-benefit analysis on speed enforcement cameras, the cameras are expected to generate a profit of five times the investment after a period of one year and five times the amount after a period of five years. It is assumed that the costs associated with installation and operation of red light cameras and speed enforcement cameras, including police time and the costs of ticketing, will be easily outweighed by the benefits expected to accrue from their use. The reduced number of accidents is also included in the calculation of expected benefits since fewer road accident casualties translate to large cost savings. Revenues raised from fines and penalties imposed on traffic violators will be used to finance recurrent, operational costs (Great Britain: Department for Transport, 2007). Limits and exclusions Over speeding is an issue on many roads and we sought to address this issue by the implementation of this project. However, funding is restricted and, therefore, not sufficient to address all accident crash sites and black spots. Speed enforcement cameras have been controversial, with accusations that highway authorities have introduced them solely as a financial benefit. On the contrary, when properly implemented, speed enforcement cameras can provide a positive contribution to road safety. Currently, it is not possible for speed enforcement cameras to be applied in implementing 20 mph speed zones. These speed zones need to be enforced through complex engineering methods. The system works by matching vehicle registration numbers entering and leaving a route and can only be used on a single route at a time. By measuring time between matchings, the speed cameras can calculate the average speed between the two cameras. However, a number of drivers may avoid speed detection if they go off the road before reaching the second camera. The initial effects of the installation of the red light cameras include a dramatic increase in accidents related to red light running. This is according to research carried out in cities that have enforced these systems. This is because; the presence of the red light cameras appears to encourage more accidents since many drivers fear getting caught on the cameras. References Great Britain: Department for Transport. (2007). Traffic Calming. London: The Stationery Office. Leach, L. P. (2005). Critical Chain Project Management. London: Artech House. Marcus Nieto, C. S. (1997). Public Video Surveillance: Is It An Effective Crime Prevention Tool? California: California Research Bureau. Reid H. Ewing, I. o. (1999). Traffic Calming: State of the Practice. Washington: Institute of Transportation Engineers. Read More