A key element of the city’s efforts has been the use of automated enforcement solutions: camera systems that detect and capture traffic violations related to speed, red lights, school buses, work zones and more.
“Automated enforcement technology acts as a force multiplier, changing driver behavior to keep constituents safe,” says Melba Rivera-Irizarry, vice president of strategic accounts for Verra Mobility, a global leader in safe mobility solutions.
D.C.’s Automated Safety Camera (ASC) program (formerly known as Automated Traffic Enforcement) is run by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and implemented in part with Verra Mobility. ASC currently manages nearly 550 traffic cameras throughout the city.
“The program has become a key tool in the Vision Zero initiative,” says Charles Turner, associate director of ASC for DDOT. “Through automated enforcement technology, we aim to slow down traffic across the whole District of Columbia, reducing the chance of injury and keeping the public safer.”
A MULTIDIMENSIONAL APPROACH
Automated enforcement plays a key role in what Turner calls Washington’s “360-degree approach” to traffic safety. Traffic safety can only be substantially improved, he says, with multiple coordinated strategies and collaboration across several different stakeholders.
The ASC program embraces this multidimensional approach. Working with Verra Mobility, Turner’s team has implemented a combination of automated enforcement tools, including 208 speed safety cameras, 56 red light cameras and 25 school bus stop-arm cameras. Camera placement is based on factors such as school zone safety or in areas with high rates of crashes and injuries.
The data shows automated enforcement is working. In 2023, 70 percent of vehicles that received a ticket through the district’s speed cameras received only one, suggesting that the citations discouraged repeat offenses. A 2019 district study also showed that, within one year of installation, speed cameras reduced crashes by 30 percent.
DATA-INFORMED DECISIONS
The district created a public-facing data portal that includes information on every camera system in the city, including the location of each camera and the number of violations.
This dashboard serves multiple purposes. It gives the public location and volumetric information on the total program as well as per location. It also shows the number of violations related to total traffic volume.
Because the transportation department cannot afford to place cameras on every street, the agency evaluates data to identify areas that have reached safety compliance. Once compliance is met, that camera can be moved to a higher-risk, higher-priority location.
ASC and Multimodal Safety and Engineering teams review the data and consider camera rotation 12 to 18 months after installation of each camera. “By rotating cameras,” Turner says, “we create a safety halo around the city.”
Residents can easily log on to see real-time information and past data for any camera in the city — essential for transparency and trust, says Rivera-Irizarry. “Public data is a key form of visibility into a program.”
SUCCESS STORY: WHEELER ROAD
One example of the multidimensional approach of the ASC program is Wheeler Road in Southeast D.C.
DDOT identified the corridor as a high-injury roadway, with one speed survey finding that 47 percent of drivers were exceeding the speed limit by at least 11 miles per hour. In 2021, DDOT discussed different safety tool options with community members, using strategies such as outreach at local Advisory Neighborhood Commission meetings and public surveys.
Based in part on this community feedback, DDOT is now applying a combination of additional speed cameras and roadway redesign — including a road diet, pedestrian islands and curb extensions — to reduce speeding and crashes.
BEST PRACTICES
Ensure compliance. When implementing an automated enforcement program, you must consider a complex web of legislative requirements at the local, state and federal levels. Find a vendor with extensive experience who will work with you to build a compliant program.
Look for turnkey solutions. An ideal vendor won’t just supply cameras; they will offer solutions with end-to-end support. Look for a partner that will assist your team with community engagement, communication with law enforcement, court support, and reporting and analytics.
Engage the public. Communicate early and often with residents and community groups so they are aware of any automated enforcement safety programs. Create opportunities for the public to share suggestions for where cameras should go, and ask for regular feedback throughout the implementation process. Share all camera data with residents to keep them engaged and supportive of the program.
Ensure equity. Automated enforcement technology can eliminate human bias in the way cities issue traffic violations. Work carefully with your vendor to learn best practices that increase fairness and equity.
LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE
“Automated enforcement programs are here to stay,” says Turner. The programs are already evolving to incorporate new technologies. For example, the district’s school bus stop-arm program uses AI to identify potential passing violations. Because of the success of these programs, the district will continue to look for new and developing opportunities where it can use technology to improve and implement safety measures for its community.
As they look to the future, municipalities should work with process-driven vendors to make sure any technologies they implement are safe, secure and flexible enough to meet transportation needs in the years ahead.
This article is sponsored by Verra Mobility.
