Speed Camera Programming, Simplified

Speeding is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Police departments have increasingly been turning to speed safety camera programs to help better enforce speed limits. Automating enforcement can significantly reduce speeding and improve safety for all road users.

In our ongoing contact with law enforcement agencies across the country, we have found a dearth in resources for police departments looking to create a speed safety camera program from the ground up. And we know that starting an automated enforcement program can be daunting. That’s why we created the LENS (Law Enforcement Navigation Strategy for Speed Cameras) Guide.

A valuable resource for law enforcement agencies looking to start or enhance their speed safety camera programs, the LENS guide provides clear guidelines and best practices. Here’s how you can leverage the LENS Guide to build an effective automated enforcement program.

What is the LENS Guide?

The LENS Guide is a resource developed by Traffic Logix to assist municipalities and law enforcement agencies in implementing speed safety camera programs. It provides a step-by-step approach to addressing speeding, setting up the necessary infrastructure, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The LENS Guide also helps police departments gather data to support their decision-making and demonstrate the effectiveness of their speed safety initiatives.

Steps to Create a Speed Safety Camera Program Using the LENS Guide

1. Assessing Need

The first step in creating a speed safety camera program is identifying high-risk areas where speeding is a frequent issue. This includes gathering data on traffic patterns, accident history, and areas with high pedestrian activity. By using data to guide camera placement, departments can make data-driven decisions about where to deploy cameras for maximum impact.

Pro Tip: Prioritize areas near schools, work zones, or busy intersections, as these tend to be locations where speed-related incidents are more likely to occur.

2. Ensure Legal Compliance

A key component of any speed safety camera program is ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal laws. The LENS Guide provides guidance on legal considerations to avoid potential challenges to the use of speed cameras in your jurisdiction. Compliance with these legal standards not only ensures the program’s legitimacy but also builds trust within the community.

Pro Tip: Work closely with local legal experts to ensure that your program is fully compliant with all relevant laws and regulations.

3. Involving Key Stakeholders

Collaborating with community stakeholders is pivotal to the success of any speed safety camera program. In addition, public awareness and transparency are critical aspects of a program’s success. The LENS Guide emphasizes the importance of notifying the community about the program and how the cameras will be used..

Pro Tip: Create a clear communication plan that explains the program’s objectives, such as improving safety and reducing speeding, rather than solely focusing on issuing fines.

4. Install the Right Equipment

Once locations are selected, the next step is to select your speed safety cameras. It’s important to choose cameras that are reliable, accurate, and easy to maintain. Traffic Logix offers a range of solutions designed for use in speed enforcement, including speed cameras and interactive radar signs to notify drivers of speed.

Pro Tip: Consider using camera systems that provide both speed enforcement and real-time notifications to drivers, which can further encourage compliance with speed limits.

5. Processing Violations

Once the cameras are in place and the program is operational, continuous monitoring is essential. Traffic Logix partners with Dacra Tech to help provide police departments with a comprehensive enforcement program. This includes issuing and reviewing violations.

Pro Tip: While Traffic Logix offers the option to process violations on your own, using Dacra Tech is low-cost and provides for more streamlined, efficient programming.

6. Evaluate Program Effectiveness

To measure the success of the speed safety camera program, police departments should regularly review performance metrics. Evaluating program success helps departments demonstrate the program’s return on investment, including potential savings from reduced accidents and traffic-related injuries.

Pro Tip: Use before-and-after comparisons to showcase improvements in road safety and make the case for expanding the program to additional locations.

Creating a speed safety camera program can be a highly effective way for police departments to reduce speeding and enhance public safety. The LENS Guide from Traffic Logix can help law enforcement agencies streamline the process, ensure compliance, and maximize program impact. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve an existing program, the LENS Guide is an invaluable resource that provides the tools and strategies necessary for success.

For more information on how to get started, download the Traffic Logix LENS Guide.