Skip to main content

IRF Washington advocates for PPPs in traffic enforcement to boost safety

New IRF Policy Paper outlines effective automated traffic enforcement PPP models. In most countries traffic enforcement cameras and other equipment are purchased, owned, and operated by government organisations. The past two decades have seen a wide-ranging wave of privatisations and introduction of public private partnerships (PPP) in formerly government-owned or controlled activities, including traffic enforcement. Implementing this concept requires a set of principles and good practices presented in
November 10, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
New IRF Policy Paper outlines effective automated traffic enforcement PPP models

In most countries traffic enforcement cameras and other equipment are purchased, owned, and operated by government organisations. The past two decades have seen a wide-ranging wave of privatisations and introduction of public private partnerships (PPP) in formerly government-owned or controlled activities, including traffic enforcement. Implementing this concept requires a set of principles and good practices presented in this IRF policy statement.

In a policy statement released by the IRF and available at 3918 IRF Washington website, good practice guidelines are shared for effective automated traffic enforcement PPP models around the world. These models require at a minimum a private party willing to supply the cameras at no upfront charge to the public party, which could be a municipality, county, state, or nation, and provide a service to issue tickets and collect fines. In these schemes, the private party agrees to recover its investment over time by receiving a negotiated percentage of the fines revenue with a “capped” or maximum monthly or annual payment to the private party established between the public and private party. This cap should not prevent the private party from issuing tickets after this cap is reached, which means a reasonable per ticket fee only to cover the private party’s additional costs should continue after reaching this cap.

Moreover, an independent third party must be hired to approve, routinely inspect, verify and calibrate each camera and the processes to confirm the intended performances.

Lastly, public acceptance of PPP schemes can be strengthened through campaigns pledging that, once the cost thresholds for all the private parties (camera supplier & operator, third party auditors, etc.) are met, revenues generated from the collection of fines are reinvested in road safety related projects.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • ERF urges greater maintenance of Europe’s road signs to save lives
    March 21, 2016
    ERF has launched a position paper to advocate better maintenance of Europe’s traffic signs. Vertical signage is an essential element not only of a modern and well-maintained road infrastructure, but also of a safe and functional road network. Road signs help regulate traffic, provide crucial visual guidance and give drivers important preview especially during night-time conditions. Well maintained and efficient signage becomes even more necessary when taking into account the ageing population of Europe, in
  • Financing Portugal's road network
    April 12, 2012
    Following a government decision, a new model for the management and financing of the road infrastructures sector was defined in 2007 and is now being implemented The national road agency (Estradas de Portugal or EP, EPE) was transformed into a state-owned public company, Estradas de Portugal, SA (EP, SA), and a new body, the Institute for Road Infrastructures (InIR), was created with public functions of regulation and supervision of road infrastructures. InIR is now the Portuguese national road authorit
  • Financing Portugal's road network
    February 14, 2012
    Following a government decision, a new model for the management and financing of the road infrastructures sector was defined in 2007 and is now being implemented. The national road agency (Estradas de Portugal or EP, EPE) was transformed into a state-owned public company, Estradas de Portugal, SA (EP, SA), and a new body, the Institute for Road Infrastructures (InIR), was created with public functions of regulation and supervision of road infrastructures.
  • SWARCO sets up live-lane running in Germany
    February 28, 2023
    SWARCO’s system spans 2.8km along the hard shoulder of the A8 motorway between Karlsruhe and Karlsbad in southwest Germany.