Speed Camera Information
Speed cameras, also called photo radar, refer to electronic devices that monitor the speed of passing cars, and photograph automobiles that are going too fast. Speed cameras can be either permanent or mobile, but neither type requires police to pull over the offending automobile.
Other People Are Reading
-
Purpose
-
Speed cameras aim to reduce the speed of motor vehicles, which improves motorist safety. Speed represents a contributing cause in about 30 percent of crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Effects
-
Speed cameras reduce the speed of motorists and reduce crashes, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). For example, the number of motorists in Maryland driving more than 10 miles over the speed limit decreased by 70 percent after the introduction of speed cameras, according to an IIHS study. An NHTSA-sponsored review found that permanent speed cameras reduced crashes from 20 to 25 percent, and mobile speed camera programs reduced crashes by 21 to 51 percent, according to the IIHS.
-
Prevalence
-
Speed cameras are used throughout the world, including the United States, Australia, Germany, Canada, France and Spain. In the United States, 68 communities in more than 12 states employ speeding cameras, according to the IIHS.
Criticism
-
The National Motorists Association (NMA) opposes speed cameras, arguing that speed cameras can make mistakes, and that they usually cannot identify the driver. In addition, the NMA contends that people who receive tickets are not adequately or quickly notified.
-
