The effect of mobile radar enforcement and supporting publicity on road trauma during July 1995-June 1997 was examined in terms of the number of casualty crashes that occurred on undivided roads in 100 km/h speed zones in rural Victoria. The crash-based analysis compared crash frequencies for the period in which up to 73 mobile radar devices were operational (July 1995-June 1997) with corresponding two-year period before their introduction (July 1992-June 1994) when there was no mobile radar enforcement. The crash effects were examined according to the type of police vehicle used during each session of mobile radar operation. The type of vehicle used was either a marked patrol car, signifying the overt operation, or an unmarked patrol car signifying the covert operation. Interactions of the enforcement with varying levels of mobile radar publicity awareness were also considered. The strongest effects on casualty crashes occurred when a mix of overt and covert mobile radar enforcement was accompanied by high awareness levels of mobile radar publicity during July 1996-June 1997. (Author/publisher)
Abstract