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

  • UAE system: IRF Global Road Achievement Awards Laureate
    March 8, 2016
    UAE’s Pavement and Asset Management System. The Federal Road Network of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) comprises 670km of roads, mainly highways, with 3,100 lane-km. These roads connect the Northern Emirates (Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaima, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwaim) with the Emirate of Dubai and Oman. Knowing the importance of preserving these strategic road links, the UAE’s Ministry of Public Works started the implementation of an Asset and Pavement System in June 2012. The Road Department embarked on
  • Road markings initiative for Mexico
    December 3, 2014
    The increasing need for efficient and durable products providing greater road safety is a concern of many authorities around the world, with Mexico being no exception While the Mexican Government seeks to improve the safety of the country’s roads, many companies and local governments are also taking the initiative to make their mark. Over the past decades, cities around the world have experienced rapid urbanisation. The growth of urban centres like Mexico City, coupled with the expansive use of cars as a
  • Australia’s Transurban sees boost in traffic and toll revenue
    January 14, 2015
    Transurban, an Australian manager of highways and developer of urban toll roads, saw toll revenue for the December 2014 quarter increase by more than 63% to US$304 million compared to the same period last year. For the half-year ended December 2014, toll revenue rose by 63.7% to nearly $602 million, compared to the corresponding period in 2013, a company statement said. Transurban, established in 1966 and based in Melbourne, owns CityLink in Melbourne, which connects three of the city's major freeways
  • Brazil launches new transport infrastructure investment plan
    August 30, 2012
    The Brazilian government has announced a new transport infrastructure investment plan involving the concession of motorway operations and modernisation of the railway sector. The private public partnerships are predicted to lead to an investment of US$65.68 billion (BRL 133bn) in the next 25 years, including US$ 39.63 billion (BRL 80bn) to be spent in the first five years of the contract.