Citation

Kang J-K. IATSS Res. 2002; 26(2): 38-44.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

Speeding has been reported as one of the major causes for fatal traffic accidents in Korea. The resolution against this dangerous speeding comes to make the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) system an enforcement tool. Since April 1997, the Korean National Police Agency (NPA) has installed more than 1,000 ASE systems at a number of road sections in Korea. They aim to lower the number of speeding violations and thus reduce the severity of road accidents especially the number of deaths. The purpose of this paper is to describe the experience of Korean ASE systems, focusing on the impacts of fixed-type ASE systems on traffic speed characteristics and on the overall safety of roads. The experience in Korea shows that introduction of massive ASE systems has been very successful in terms of reducing, not only fatal accidents, but also driver incompliances with speed limits. Some important findings are summarized as follows: 1) ASE systems in Korea prove to reduce means and variances of vehicle speeds (A recent public attitude survey indicated that more than 70% of Korean drivers reduced driving speeds by at least 5km/h after the introduction of ASE systems); 2) It was found that means and variances of speeds change due to speed cameras and decreased fatalities by about 40% to 80% in 2km of the camera influence area; 3) It was found that, in terms of camera location, fixed-type ASE systems were the most effective in reducing accidents when it was installed at the upstream of curves or downgrade sections; and 4) It was also found that well designed advanced warning signs of fixed-type speed cameras have a great potential for early speed reduction in advance to the camera site. The signs also reduce drivers' complaints.