Skip to main content

Average speed cameras ‘cut worst crashes by more than a third’

The use of average speed cameras has been found, on average, to cut the number of crashes resulting in death or serious injury by more than a third, according to research for the RAC Foundation by Road Safety Analysis. Researchers found that on average, having allowed for natural variation and overall trends, the number of fatal and serious collisions decreases by 36 per cent after average speed cameras are introduced. By the end of 2015 there were at least 50 stretches of road in Great Britain permanen
September 30, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The use of average speed cameras has been found, on average, to cut the number of crashes resulting in death or serious injury by more than a third, according to research for the 4961 RAC Foundation by 5227 Road Safety Analysis. Researchers found that on average, having allowed for natural variation and overall trends, the number of fatal and serious collisions decreases by 36 per cent after average speed cameras are introduced.

By the end of 2015 there were at least 50 stretches of road in Great Britain permanently covered by average speed cameras monitoring a total length of 255 miles (410 km).

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “The indications are that compliance with average speed cameras is generally high; now this research reveals the sizeable impact they can have in reducing death and serious injuries.

“As the cost of technology continues to fall, more and more authorities are considering whether to install average speed cameras and so it will be important to ensure that casualty and compliance data is openly available so we can continue to assess and understand the road safety benefits they deliver.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • 'Talking cars' could save lives, study says
    November 26, 2020
    ITS Australia-led research suggests curve warnings on roads would help drivers
  • Kenya WIM system cuts four days off journey times
    March 18, 2014
    Shem Oirere looks at how weigh-in-motion is helping to streamline the trucking industry in Kenya. Kenya, East Africa’s largest economy, is streamlining trucking operations on its section of the 8,800km Northern Corridor. It is both reducing the number of weighbridges and automating the remaining ones in an effort to improve efficiency and eliminate corruption.The Northern Corridor is a major gateway through Kenya to the landlocked countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sou
  • Europe’s road safety record suffers as austerity bites hard, traffic police chiefs are told at TISPOL 2017
    March 7, 2018
    Europe’s leading traffic police chiefs are struggling with the challenge of how best to manage the region’s road network in an era of austerity. Things are changing fast, and not for the better, reports Geoff Hadwick. Europe’s road safety record is under threat. Police budgets are being slashed, staff numbers are falling and a long-term trend towards ever-fewer road deaths has ground to a halt. The line on the graph has flat-lined. Does Europe’s road network face a far more dangerous future? Lower and
  • Convictions up but many still drug-driving
    March 1, 2016
    As the Department for Transport confirms a six-fold increase in the number of people caught drug-driving, a survey by road safety charity Brake and Direct Line Insurance reveals huge numbers of drivers and passengers are still taking dangerous risks when it comes to drugs. The survey indicates that one in 14 drivers, or seven per cent admit they drive at least once a month after having taken drugs.