Highway Safety Existing Installations Future Installations Issues

Transcription

1 Peter A. Allain 1

2 Highway Safety Existing Installations Future Installations Issues 2

3 Engineering Enforcement Education 3

4 Engineering Enforcement Education Photo Enforcement 4

5 FACT: Photo Enforcement is a tool that has been proven to improve compliance with laws and therefore improve safety. 5

6 Lafayette Red light and speed Baton Rouge Red light and right on red New Orleans? Shreveport? Monroe? 6

7 Signal Maintenance Agreement Traffic Control Device Permit DOTD Policy: Supervised by Traffic Engineer Correct Timing MUTCD Compliant PHOTO ENFORCED signs 7

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10 Red Light Enforcement at DOTD Maintained Signals Sites selected by DOTD based on safety 10

11 GIS Plot of 331 intersections which qualify for photo enforcement based on safety. 11

12 Photo Enforcement is a good safety tool for red lights. Should it be used for Speed Enforcement? 12

13 Setting of Speed Limits Legislation Speed Traps Safety Hazard? 13

14 How are Speed Limits set? 14

15 SPEED LIMITS ENFORCEMENT SPEED OF VEHICLES 15

16 SPEED LIMITS ENFORCEMENT SPEED OF VEHICLES SPEED LIMITS SPEED OF VEHICLES ENFORCEMENT 16

17 Speed Study Speeds are recorded during free flow Radar, Laser, stop watch, counting tubes Speeds are analyzed based of frequency Statistical values are calculated: Mean 85 th percentile Pace Assumes most drivers will drive at a safe speed 17

18 Why use the 85 th percentile? 18

19 Rushing said that Redflex equipment found 559 speeders out of 1,315 drivers on I-12 at the Juban interchange in one hour. (livingstonparishnews.com) 558 = 42.5 % Under 85% rule this should be 15% 1315 This speed limit is too low. 19

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21 A state law pushed by Redflex and similar companies allows municipalities to use the equipment to impose civil fines for speeding violations and for running red lights at intersections. (The Advocate; January 20, 2009) 21

22 RS 32:365. Television B. Law enforcement officers of the state or any political subdivision thereof shall be authorized to operate video recording equipment and monitors in their law enforcement vehicles while in the performance of their duties. However, this provision shall not be construed to allow law enforcement officers to record vehicles in violation of traffic safety laws with citations for such violations to be mailed to the alleged violator at a later date. 22

23 2001; HB 1591 Municipalities Failed to pass House 2001; SB 1059 Municipalities Failed in committee 2004; HB 1078 Municipalities Failed to pass House 2004; SB 612 Municipalities >50,000 pop died in House 2005; SB 168 for New Orleans withdrawn 2005; HB 368 for New Orleans died in House 23

24 Present law authorizes law enforcement officers to operate video recording equipment and monitors in their law enforcement vehicles while in the performance of their duties, except that this provision does not authorize law enforcement officers to record vehicles in violation of traffic safety laws with citations for such violations to be mailed to the alleged violator at a later date. 24

25 Railroad grade crossing violations: RS 32:171. H. In addition to the affidavit, the law enforcement officer may rely upon other evidence of a grade crossing violation including photographic or video evidence. A law enforcement officer may issue a citation to the owner or driver of the vehicle, or in the case of a leased vehicle, the lessee or driver of the leased vehicle, on the basis of the information contained in the affidavit or photographic or video evidence. The owner or lessee shall not be cited if the vehicle had been stolen. 25

26 The civil penalties for driving over the posted speed limit according to the Parish Council ordinance adopting the Redflex program, are: 5-10 mph over the limit - $ mph over the limit - $ mph over the limit - $175 Over 30 mph - $232 These fines are doubled if the violation takes place in a school zone while school zone speed limits are in effect. (livingstonparishnews.com) 26

27 $$$$$ A vehicle traveling at 26 mph at this location would be fined $264 by mail a week later. If a police officer were standing here, he could gesture the driver to slow down. Which is safer? Is it safety or money? 27

28 1997; HCR 79 Speed traps be published in La. Tour Guide and DOTD install signs. 1998; HCR 88 Same 2006; HCR 204 DOTD and Legislative Auditor to study speed traps 2007; HCR 215 Speed fines are the primary source of income for some communities 2008; HB 1050 Limited the amount of fines a community could keep failed in committee 28

29 Safety? 29 The Redflex SUV was parked on the southbound shoulder of the two new lanes of La. 16 in Watson early Monday morning. That morning at midnight was the start of fines being issued to anyone caught speeding. (livingstonparishnews.com)

30 Red Lights Speed Yielding to Pedestrians Right on Red Tolls Railroad gates Inspection Stickers? Cell phone use? Turn signals? Tailgating? Seat belts? 30

31 High school student prank: To extract revenge on targeted individuals they tape duplicate license plates on vehicle of same color and make of the victim s vehicle, and then they purposefully speed through speed cameras sites. Victim receives citations in the mail days later. Official response: This could hurt the integrity of the Speed Camera Program. It is unfortunate that kids have a lot of time on their hands that they can think of doing such things. (thesentinel.com) 31

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