Speed management: enforcement and new technologies

Due to the massive character of speeding and inappropriate travel speeds, speed management continues to be an important and challenging policy area. Estimates are that in about a quarter to one third of fatal crashes excessive speeds are involved, making speed one of the crucial factors in road safety. Management of speeds of drivers of motorized vehicles has a high safety potential. Until now this has been done mostly by road design, setting speed limits, and enforcing these limits. Speed limits should be safe and credible. Speed enforcement is reported to be effective (5-35% reduction in casualties) and cost-beneficial. Use of modern technologies, such as safety cameras, laser guns, section control, etc., have made speed enforcement more effective and efficient. In the future, new intelligent vehicle technology will create new possibilities for speed management. This new technology can operate independent of, or integrated with, police checks. This paper reviews the scientific evidence about the effects of modern speed enforcement methods and discusses some new technologies for speed management and their potential impact on crashes.