French speed cameras prevented 15,000 fatal road crashes in 7 years, study claims

The installation of speed cameras in France prevented around 15,000 fatal and 62,000 non-fatal road accidents between November 2003 and December 2010, according to a study in the international review Accident Analysis and Prevention. The mortality rate per 100,000 vehicles is said to have fallen 42% from 1.86 in November 2003 to 1.07 in October 2010. A second study found that speed cameras were most effective at reducing excessive speed infractions (more than 20km/h over the limit) and moderate speed infrac
April 8, 2013 Read time: 1 min
The installation of speed cameras in France prevented around 15,000 fatal and 62,000 non-fatal road accidents between November 2003 and December 2010, according to a study in the international review Accident Analysis and Prevention. The mortality rate per 100,000 vehicles is said to have fallen 42% from 1.86 in November 2003 to 1.07 in October 2010.

A second study found that speed cameras were most effective at reducing excessive speed infractions (more than 20km/h over the limit) and moderate speed infractions (between 10 and 20km/h over the limit), with the percentage of fatal accidents falling from 25% to 6% and 13% to 9% respectively between 2001 and 2010. The number of minor speed infractions (less than 10km/h over the limit) remained stable, but the percentage of fatal accidents rose from 7% to 13%.

Related Content

  • Road fatalities drink driving
    April 16, 2012
    The European Union is making serious moves to tackle road fatalities in a bid to cut Europe's road death rates to 25,000/year by 2010. So far, measures taken have had little effect, bringing the number down by just 18% to 41,000/year.
    Read More
  • Safer speeds required says new report
    June 18, 2018
    A new report highlights speeding as a significant factor in a worryingly high percentage of road crashes. According to the report, inappropriate speed is responsible for between 20% and 30% of all road crashes involving fatalities. The report is based on a review of research into the relationship between speed and crash risk and has been produced by the OECD’s International Transport Forum (ITF).
    Read More
  • UK study casts doubt on speed camera effectiveness
    June 11, 2013
    A study by the RAC Foundation in the UK has raised doubts about the usefulness of speed cameras. The research has prompted the RAC Foundation to write to seven local authorities about 21 camera sites where there has been a noticeable increase in the number of accidents since the installation of speed cameras. The study based on speed camera data going back to 1990 identified nine risky camera sites in Merseyside, north-west England and three in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, both in central England.
    Read More
  • Addressing a silent disaster
    September 24, 2012
    As India's economy registers 9% annual growth, promising material super-power status by mid-century, the nation is barely beginning to address a silent disaster, that of road casualties It was Dr. P K Sikdar [a director of International Consultants and Technocrats/ICT and a former director of the Central Road Research Institute/CRRI] who coined the phrase "silent disaster."
    Read More

Highlighted Content