Each year, the Virginia Bicycle Federation monitors and advocates for or against bills that might affect bicycling and walking in Virginia, bills that could make it safer and easier or more dangerous and difficult to bicycle and walk. RIDE Solutions reports on the bills that the Virginia Bicycle Federation is watching. This article is for informational purposes; RIDE Solutions neither endorses nor opposes proposed legislation. You can find more information and track bills at http://virginiageneralassembly.gov/
HB1442, Automated Speed Enforcement, has passed both the House and the Senate, but is going back to the House with an amendment ($125 fine increased from $100). Here is an explanation of automated speed enforcement from the Virginia Bicycle Federation:
Forty percent of fatal crashes in Virginia involve excessive speeds, compared to 30 percent nationally. Speed is a factor in significantly more fatal crashes than alcohol. For example, in 2018 in Virginia, there were 339 speed-related fatalities, compared to 278 alcohol-related fatalities. Speeding-related fatalities in the Commonwealth are at a 9-year high (at 345 in ’19) and increasing – a 17% increase. School zones are a particularly important area for automated speed enforcement: between 2017 and 2019, there were 9 people killed and 446 injured in speed-related crashes in school zones, and 21,286 convictions for speeding at school crossings.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that automated speed enforcement (ASE) is a proven effective countermeasure to reduce speeding-related crashes, fatalities, and injuries, and recommends allowing its use. Allowing local jurisdictions to use ASE would implement the Safety Board’s recommendation, albeit only in schools zones and work zones, and not interstates and other locations.
HB1442 is enabling legislation, not a mandate. The bill’s components have been designed with respect for privacy, reasonableness, potential for bias, and the experience of other jurisdictions.
- The speed threshold for citations is 10 mph over the posted speed limit
- Photo evidence may only be used for the purposes of speed enforcement (no Big Brother) and must be purged after 60 days post payment.
- Programs are limited to school/work/residential zones and warning signs must be present.
- Fines are capped at $100
- A dispute process is outlined
- Speeding photo-enforcement is unbiased, and effective at reducing speeds and injury crashes.
Experience in Other States
A 2015 IIHS Study of Effects of Automated Speed Enforcement in Montgomery County, MD, found that the cameras were both extremely effective at reducing crashes that result in an incapacitating or fatal injury, and that camera use was supported by a majority of residents.
- “The overall effect of the camera program …was a 39 percent reduction in the likelihood that a crash resulted in an incapacitating or fatal injury.“
- Years after the program began, “speed cameras were associated with a 10 percent reduction in mean speeds and a 59 percent reduction in the likelihood that a vehicle was traveling more than 10 mph above the speed limit at camera sites.”
- “When interviewed in fall 2014, 95 percent of drivers were aware of the camera program, [and] 62 percent favored it.”
Automated Speed Enforcement has been shown to reduce speeding and to reduce crashes in school zones by up to 10%, so much so that New York City is expanding its program five-fold after years of success.
A 2015 IIHS Study of Effects of Automated Speed Enforcement in Montgomery County, MD, found that the cameras were both extremely effective at reducing crashes that result in an incapacitating or fatal injury, and that camera use was supported by a majority of residents.
- “The overall effect of the camera program …was a 39 percent reduction in the likelihood that a crash resulted in an incapacitating or fatal injury.“
- Years after the program began, “speed cameras were associated with a 10 percent reduction in mean speeds and a 59 percent reduction in the likelihood that a vehicle was traveling more than 10 mph above the speed limit at camera sites.”
- “When interviewed in fall 2014, 95 percent of drivers were aware of the camera program, [and] 62 percent favored it.”
Automated Speed Enforcement has been shown to reduce speeding and to reduce crashes in school zones by up to 10%, so much so that New York City is expanding its program five-fold after years of success.
Endorsements
A growing coalition supports HB1442, including:
- Sports Backers
- Drive Smart VA (leading the Hands Free Bill)
- City of Richmond
- City of Alexandria
- Richmond Families for Safe Streets,
- Alexandria Families for Safe Streets
- Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
