This study examines the effectiveness of drone radar and police presence on the reduction of speeds at a high speed freeway location and on a freeway construction zone in Michigan. A full factorial experimental design with two levels of drone radar, two levels of police presence, and three locations relative to the drone radar installation was carried out. The mean speeds, 85th percentile speeds, and the percentage of vehicles exceeding the speed limit by 10 mph were obtained for cars and trucks in the drive and pass lanes. The effect of the drone radar and police presence on general vehicle speeds, although usually statistically significant, was found to be typically less than 1,5 mph and of little practical difference. A speed reduction effect of drone radar and/or police presence on high speed trucks was found at two of the three test sites, where the percentage of trucks exceeding the speed limit by 10 mph in the pass lane decreased between 30 percent and 70 percent. The findings of the study indicate that drone radar with police patrols can serve as a speeding countermeasure at locations where high speed trucks are a problem. (A)
Abstract