Feasibility of Real-Time Remote Speed Enforcement for Work Zones

Studies have shown that a large percentage of vehicles involved in work zone crashes are traveling at excessive speeds. While traditional speed enforcement has been shown to reduce speeds through the work area, enforcement under these conditions can potentially be dangerous to both the motoring public and enforcement officers. The work zone layout often limits the locations where an officer can set up to enforce the speed limit and the locations where violators can be stopped. Automated speed enforcement technology could help eliminate the need to stop violators in a work zone, but it is not currently a popular concept in the United States due to concerns about motorist privacy. TTI researchers hypothesized that this technology could possibly be useful for work zone enforcement if adapted to more of a real-time operation. This paper summarizes the initial testing of the concept of remote speed enforcement. An automated speed enforcement system (consisting of digital video and lidar technology) was meshed with a wireless communications system. The unit determined when vehicles were exceeding a certain speed threshold. If a vehicle was detected as exceeding the threshold, a digital photograph was taken of the violator. This photograph was then transmitted to an observer stationed downstream of the site. The technical feasibility of the system was assessed through field tests. Focus groups of law enforcement personnel were used to determine potential acceptance of the system in the law enforcement community. Recommendations for future improvements and possible applications of the system are made.