Average speed enforcement system efficiency assessment model

Abstract

Accidents are one of the leading cause of death all over the world. Speed has been identified as a factor in road accidents, influencing both the risk of accidents and the severity of the accidents. However, speeding is one of the most frequent violations of traffic rules by the road users. Many results of studies showed that the implementation of speed cameras significantly reduced the vehicle speed and the number of accidents near camera sites. One issue regarding speed enforcement by a speed camera is that a reduction in speed is obtained only on a short section of a road. The results of scientific research analysis suggest that this issue can be overcome by the employment of average speed enforcement system (hereafter system), which is a relatively new approach to traffic law enforcement. Until now, Lithuania had no methodology for selecting road sections to be installed with the system. The purpose of this paper is to develop a model for the assessment of safety impact of the system and to perform economic estimation of a system of Lithuanian main road sections selected under this model. The analysis of international practice helped to develop this model, which joins accident indicators, road and traffic parameters. A cost-benefit analysis of the system, implemented on main road sections and selected by suggested model, shows a high level of payback. The implementation of the system would pay back in one year of service.