Citation

Martínez-Ruíz DM, Fandiño-Losada A, Ponce de Leon A, Arango-Londoño D, Mateus JC, Jaramillo-Molina C, Bonilla-Escobar FJ, Vivas H, Vanlaar WGM, Gutiérrez-Martínez MI. Accid. Anal. Prev. 2019; 125: 267-274.

Affiliation

Cisalva Institute, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia; School of Public Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. Electronic address: maria.gutierrez@correounivalle.edu.co.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.aap.2019.02.002

PMID

30802777

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Cameras for detecting traffic violations have been used as a measure to improve road safety in different countries around the world. In Cali, Colombia, fixed cameras were installed in March 2012 on a number of roads and intersections. All camera devices are capable of detecting simultaneously the following traffic violations: driving over the speed limit, running a red light or stop sign, violation of the traffic ban schedule, and blocking the pedestrian crosswalk.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of camera enforcement of traffic violations in Cali, Colombia.

METHODS: A quasi-experimental difference-in-differences study with before and after measurements and a comparison group was conducted. We observed 38 intervention areas and 50 comparison areas (250 m radius), during 42 months before and 34 months after the installation of cameras. Effects were estimated with mixed negative binomial regression models.

RESULTS: In intervention areas, after 12 months, there was a reduction of 19.2% of all crashes and a 24.7% reduction of injury and fatal crashes. In comparison areas, this reduction was 15.0% for all crashes and 20.1% for injury and fatal crashes. After adjusted comparisons, intervention sites outperformed comparison sites with an additional yearly reduction of 5.3% (p = 0.045) for all crashes.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of cameras for detecting traffic violations seems to have a positive effect on the reduction of crashes in intervention areas. A beneficial spillover effect was found as well in comparison areas; but more evaluations are needed.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Camera enforcement; Fixed traffic camera; Mixed model; Photo enforcement; Quasi-experimental; Road injuries; Traffic violations