CAUGHT BY THE CANDID CAMERA

This article describes a Nottingham experiment using a signal activated camera to photograph red light traffic violations. Details are provided of the Dutch gatso system used, which consisted of three basic components: a hinged pole and cabinet, and a gatsometer rlc 36 ms camera unit. Loop detectors placed just beyond the stop line in each traffic lane, activate the camera when the traffic lights show red for a preset period. Photographs are taken as the vehicle crosses the detector, and at a preset time interval, to prove the vehicle is moving through the junction. In January 1988 after one month of the experiment there was a 64 percent drop in the frequency of violations recorded at the Derby road/lenton boulevard site, and a 57 percent decrease at the huntingdon street/king edward street site, in comparison with earlier video recordings. No prosecutions were carried out initially, and after six months violations began to increase. In July 1988, ten motorists for the first time in Britain were prosecuted sucessfully with this photographic evidence. During the year long experiment there was a significant decrease in the number of personal injury accidents. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00396303
• Corporate Authors:

  Reed Business Information, Limited

  Quadrant House, The Quadrant
  Brighton Road
  Sutton, Surrey  United Kingdom  SM2 5AS
• Authors:
  • STEEL, D
• Publication Date: 1989-6-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 16-17
• Serial:
  • SURVEYOR
  • Volume: 171
  • Issue Number: 5048
  • Publisher: Hemming Group, Limited
  • ISSN: 0039-6303

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash rates; Crimes; Law enforcement; Photography; Red; Red interval (Traffic signal cycle); Traffic control; Traffic signals
• Uncontrolled Terms: Decreases
• ITRD Terms: 1612: Accident rate; 9009: Decrease; 1534: Enforcement (law); 1516: Offence; 6751: Photography; 539: Red light; 654: Traffic control; 565: Traffic signal
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00499160
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM