Fixed Speed Camera

SUGGESTED CRITERIA FOR THE USE OF FIXED SPEED TIMING CAMERA EQUIPMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES

1. The head of traffic or the municipal manager must identify the roads where camera prosecutions need to take place.

2. Authorisation to utilise cameras for traffic enforcement will only be granted at locations where traffic safety studies indicate the need for enforcement.

3. A traffic safety study report shall be submitted to the DPP motivating the need for camera prosecutions. The report shall as a minimum include:

• a speed profile of traffic for the specific location or section of route showing the 85th percentile speed and the percentage of vehicles travelling in excess of the speed limit,
• where available relevant accident statistics relating to the specific location or the route as a whole,
• information relating to specific complaints from the public regarding the operational use of the route or location,
• specific information relating to the location or route that may increase traffic safety risks, such as geometry, traffic patterns, accessibility, road surface condition or specific time of day problems, 
• engineering and communications/education measures being undertaken in conjunction with enforcement programs, and
• it is recommended that only camera speed enforcement systems, where the vehicle is not required to stop, are used whenever speed enforcement is undertaken at night due to the inherent risks associated with stopping vehicles at night under conditions of poor visibility.

4.  The DPP may grant unlimited approval or approval for a specific period with renewal of approval subject to the submission of ongoing performance reports on a periodic basis. The latter is recommended. These performance reports shall include the following operational indicators and outline elements of the overall road safety strategy of the Municipality:

• Duration and frequency of enforcement undertaken as the location/ route where approval was granted, including time series statistics of the number of infringements.
• A comparison between the original speed profile and the speed profile measured after enforcement had commenced to gauge the impact of enforcement on primary road safety indicators, including infringement rate variations and the change in 85th percentile speeds.
• The effect of enforcement on accident rates [for longer term traffic enforcement programs only]
• The quality and quantity of visible policing patrols in the local municipal area of jurisdiction at the specific location or route.
• The mechanisms utilised to improve vehicle and driver fitness in the local municipal area of jurisdiction on the specific route.
• The measures taken to curb offences relating to high risk vehicles such as public transport vehicles and heavy vehicles.
• The measures taken to counter any corruption relating to traffic enforcement processes so that enforcement is seen to be a fair, just and transparent process.
• Details of public communications programs regarding traffic safety and the related traffic enforcement programs.

5. All approvals will be subject to conformance with the provisions of these TCSP Prosecuting Guidelines and the DPP shall have the discretion to temporarily suspend, or permanently withdraw, approval if any contravention of these guidelines is found to have occurred.

[ Compiled by the Technical Committee for Standards and Procedures for Traffic Control and Traffic Control Equipment (TCSP) ]

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