Community | Optotraffic Blog - Precision, Accuracy of Automated Speed Enforcement Systems

The Next Generation in Speed Cameras

June 18: The next generation in automated speed enforcement is Optotraffic’s Silver Hawk(c) providing bi-directional, lane specific enforcement. It is a fully integrated and portable unit ideally suited for multi-lane, high traffic routes where manned speeding enforcement is most challenging.

The small but durable aluminum housing contains all the critical enforcement components including, patented “Above the Road” LIDAR speed sensors, command and control computers, advanced digital imaging, data storage devices and wireless communication links. Light and small, its design makes it easy to attach the unit to a typical utility street light pole enabling deployment or re-deployment within 24 hours. For more information, visit http://www.optotraffic.com/index.php/equipment/silver-hawk.

optotraffic, portable solution, public safety, safety, speed camera, speed enforcement, speed monitoring system

Long Term Changes for Better

June 7: It is not uncommon in the news to hear reports of the number of speed cameras deployed, the number of citations issued, or the number of dollars collected using automated traffic enforcement systems. Optotraffic certainly recognizes that these are valid bits of information, but we are more interested in longer term statistics. A County Councilman in Maryland recently noted that there has been an actual change in driver behavior since cameras were deployed — particularly around schools. Likewise, the Police Chief in Washington, DC noted that traffic fatalities declined by 76 percent after automated systems were installed. That’s the real news!

optotraffic, public safety, safety, speed camera, speed reduction

The Law Enforcement View from Ohio

May 13: Like everyone else we appreciate compliments. In particular we like hearing from our law enforcement partners, such as this note we recently received from the Police Chief in New Miami, Ohio.

“We chose Optotraffic to help our modest police department enhance the safety of our Village. Yet, with their assistance and expertise, we not only have accomplished that goal but we have achieved an unanticipated culture of safety in our entire community. We simply could not have done that without them.”

Thanks, Chief!

optotraffic, Police, public safety, safety, speed reduction, speeding

Strong Support for Automated Traffic Enforcement – Even by Violators

Posted by OptoEdit in community | Safety | Speed Camera | Speeding - (0 Comments)

May 7: Recently, the well-respected Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a public opinion survey about red-light and speed cameras in Washington, DC, which has aggressive enforcement and relatively high fines. Here’s the link to the study: http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr042513.html

Some highlights of the findings:

87% favor red-light camera enforcement and 76% support speed camera enforcement.
Just over half support adding cameras at stop signs and 47% support adding cameras at crosswalks. The percentages are much higher, however, among individuals who generally walk rather than drive.
58% of the people surveyed had actually received citations generated by automated systems – primarily speed cameras. Of that number, 59% of people who received citations acknowledge that the citation was deserved.

public safety, safety, speed camera, speed enforcement, speed enforcement system, speed reduction, speeding

Without a Police Force

Here at Optotraffic, we often talk about our partnership with law enforcement and we’re very proud of those relationships. But we also work with municipalities that have no police force. Following is a note we received from the town of Lucas, Ohio that says it better than we could.

“As a small town without a police force, Optotraffic fit our needs perfectly. We were facing a significant speeding problem, which was in turn creating a public safety hazard and putting our citizens at risk. As a result of Optotraffic’s camera systems, we were finally able to address the problem and enforce a safe speed limit in our community.

Optotraffic was able to customize their programs to fit our needs as a smaller town, and walked us through each step, making the process simple and straightforward. Since installing the cameras, we have seen a dramatic reduction in unsafe speeding. Local parents whose children walk to school were vocal supporters of the idea, and are very happy with the results.

The additional revenue from the citations has led us to consider funding and implementing our own police force, allowing us to further traffic safety measures as well as deter crime, thus making the town even safer for our residents.”

optotraffic, Police, public safety, safety, speed camera

Success in Ohio

February 12: The Village of Elmwood Place is a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. Village officials and police knew they had a serious speeding problem – particularly near the Village elementary school and through residential neighborhoods.

The Village contacted Optotraffic to explore our company’s portable speed camera solution. The results speak for themselves.

During the initial few days of speed camera enforcement, 39 percent of the cars passing the school were exceeding the speed limit despite the Village having posted signs that speed cameras were being used and following a two-week warning period. After three months, however, the situation improved dramatically. When last measured, only 8 percent of vehicles passing the school are speeding.

The results were just as dramatic in residential neighborhoods where some streets were used as shortcuts by Cincinnati commuters. In the first days of enforcement on a residential street, nearly 73 percent of vehicles were exceeding the speed limit – again despite warnings and signage. That rate is now down to just over 18 percent.

optotraffic, public safety, safety, school zones, speed camera, speed reduction

Highway Safety

Posted by OptoEdit in community | Optotraffic | Safety - (0 Comments)

January 7: The Optotraffic team is committed to highway safety, particularly around schools. That’s why we come to work each day. But, of course, getting positive feedback about our work is always appreciated. That’s why we were pleased to read the very positive report on our program in Prince George’s County, Maryland by the top news radio station in the region. It includes comments by AAA, an organization that has been critical of automated speed enforcement in other jurisdictions. Here’s the link to that WTOP coverage: http://www.wtop.com/58/3178138/Study-Speed-cameras-slowing-down-Prince-Georges-drivers

optotraffic, public safety, safety, speed enforcement system, speed monitoring system, speeding

Safe Routes to School Webinar

Posted by OptoEdit in community | Optotraffic | Safety | Schools - (0 Comments)

December 27: Optotraffic is a strong supporter of the national Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program, which is coordinated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. On January 22, the organization is sponsoring a webinar featuring three experts who each coordinates SRTS programs at multiple schools and who represent a mix of urban, suburban and rural programs. The aim is to assist individuals and organizations working to create such programs in their own communities. To register for the webinar, click here.

optotraffic, public safety, safety, school zones, speed camera

Optotraffic Congratulates Safe Routes to School Program and UNC Center

Posted by OptoEdit in community | Optotraffic | Safety | Schools - (0 Comments)

December 11: The good people at the National Center for Safe Routes to School and the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center recently garnered some well-deserved recognition. The National Center has received a Harvard Bright Ideas in Government award for its efforts to engage communities in school travel data collection and, in turn, to make program decisions based on this collected information. The UNC Center is the information clearinghouse for the federal Safe Routes to School program, which encourages children to safely walk and bicycle to school. Optotraffic’s primary focus is making school zones safer and we know from our own data collection that reducing speeds around schools also reduces collisions, injuries and deaths.

optotraffic, public safety, safety, school zones, speed reduction

Special Olympics Support

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December 6: Maryland Police Chiefs do a great job of support the Special Olympics each year. Optotraffic was proud to support this effort at the recent annual meeting of the Chiefs. The police are our partners in law enforcement and we are glad to extend that partnership through this important program.

optotraffic, Police