Researchers from University of Haifa Describe Findings in Risk Management (Overt vs. covert speed cameras in combination with delayed vs. immediate…

Researchers from University of Haifa Describe Findings in Risk Management (Overt vs. covert speed cameras in combination with delayed vs. immediate feedback to the offender)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- A new study on Risk Management is now available. According to news reporting from Haifa, Israel, by VerticalNews journalists, research stated, "Speeding is a major problem in road safety because it increases both the probability of accidents and the severity of injuries if an accident occurs. Speed cameras are one of the most common speed enforcement tools."

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from the University of Haifa, "Most of the speed cameras around the world are overt, but there is evidence that this can cause a 'kangaroo effect' in driving patterns. One suggested alternative to prevent this kangaroo effect is the use of covert cameras. Another issue relevant to the effect of enforcement countermeasures on speeding is the timing of the fine. There is general agreement on the importance of the immediacy of the punishment, however, in the context of speed limit enforcement, implementing such immediate punishment is difficult. An immediate feedback that mediates the delay between the speed violation and getting a ticket is one possible solution. This study examines combinations of concealment and the timing of the fine in operating speed cameras in order to evaluate the most effective one in terms of enforcing speed limits. Using a driving simulator, the driving performance of the following four experimental groups was tested: (1) overt cameras with delayed feedback, (2) overt cameras with immediate feedback, (3) covert cameras with delayed feedback, and (4) covert cameras with immediate feedback. Each of the 58 participants drove in the same scenario on three different days. The results showed that both median speed and speed variance were higher with overt than with covert cameras. Moreover, implementing a covert camera system along with immediate feedback was more conducive to drivers maintaining steady speeds at the permitted levels from the very beginning. Finally, both 'overt cameras' groups exhibit a kangaroo effect throughout the entire experiment."

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "It can be concluded that an implementation strategy consisting of covert speed cameras combined with immediate feedback to the offender is potentially an optimal way to motivate drivers to maintain speeds at the speed limit."

For more information on this research see: Overt vs. covert speed cameras in combination with delayed vs. immediate feedback to the offender. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2015;79():231-240. Accident Analysis and Prevention can be contacted at: Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, England. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Accident Analysis and Prevention - www.elsevier.com/wps/product/cws_home/336)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting H. Marciano, University of Haifa, Ergon & Human Factors Unit, IL-31905 Haifa, Israel. Additional authors for this research include P. Setter and J. Norman.

Keywords for this news article include: Asia, Haifa, Israel, Risk Management

Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world. Copyright 2015, NewsRx LLC