Why the sudden focus on cell phones? According to a new study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at any single time, there are 13.5 million drivers on the road using a hand held phone. This number is apparently rising even though a growing number of states are clamping down on their use. Currently, 35 states ban text messaging while driving. 10 states already ban the use of hand-held cell phones for any reason. Another 35 states now ban cell phone use by novice drivers.

And this, says the NTSB, is responsible for thousands of fatal accidents a year.

On The Other Hand…

There are those, however, who say cell phones are not to blame – it’s distracted drivers in general. Many point to an earlier study by the Highway Data Institute, a nonprofit funded by the auto insurance industry, that compared accident statistics in states that have banned cell phone use with those that have not. According to that study, the state bans have had an effect on reducing the number of people that use cell phones while driving, but have had little to no effect on the number of accidents that actually occur.

According to a spokesperson for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the problem is much bigger than cell phones – it’s really all about distracted driving in general.

Those opposing the ban on cell phone use while driving also point to research that shows that while cell phone use has exploded over the past few years, there is no correlating uptick in the number of automobile accidents.

It’s hard to argue that there aren’t a number of potential distractions facing today’s drivers. Changing radio stations, adjusting GPS devices, or simply eating french fries can all steal a driver’s attention away from the road.

What do you think? Is it time to ban all cell phone use or are these devices simply a scapegoat to a bigger problem? The jury is still in deliberation.

Which speed display is most effective at slowing cars?

It’s clear just from looking at them, that all radar speed signs are NOT created equal. Some, for instance have bigger displays or brighter lights. Some are white with yellow LEDs while others are yellow with white LEDS. So the important question arises, does the design of a speedcheck sign have an effect on its ability to slow cars?

We’re finding an increasing amount of evidence that suggests it certainly does. It all comes down to the radar speed signs’ credibility – some simply look more official than others. The more official it looks, the more respect it commands from drivers. And with voluntary enforcement tools such as radar speedcheck signs, commanding respect is the name of the game.

Part of a speed displays’ official look is certainly associated with standards. Some signs are MUTCD (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices) compliant, while others are not. MUTCD covers a wide range of standards from font size to color and while drivers may not be familiar with the actual code, they have come to intrinsically recognize “official” signs from those that are not.

But choosing a sign that is MUTCD compliant is just the start. There are design issues that go beyond compliancy that effect the speed displays’ effectiveness. The brightness of the LEDs and the number/size of the individual lights, for instance, can make a huge difference.  In some speed displays, the numbers and letters appear as large individual “dots” rather than as a more fluid line. We find the “dotted” displays result in a less official – less effective sign. The same holds true for lettering and numbering that are off-center to the signs’ background black, are crooked, two small or two big or are simply dull at a distance.

There are a lot of other issues involved in radar speed signs design that can affect their durability, versatility and effectiveness. From vandal resistant features and the use of quality parts that determine the dependability of the equipment, to LED positioning and programmable options that increase safety and adaptability. But as you head out onto the roadways this holiday season, take a closer look at the radar speed signs in your own neighborhood. Do they look official and command respect, or do they look like a fast fix with little authority behind their posting? Then, if you have a chance, watch the brake lights of cars as they approach the signs. You can bet which signs will command the driver respect required to get them to use their brake.

As we begin the new year, we can add Kansas to the list of 30 states that now ban text messaging while driving. This ban, along with a variety of other new driver safety regulations being adopted across the country, reflect a growing concern over the effect that driver distractions are having in causing accidents.

According to statistics gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2009 5,474 people in the U.S. were killed in accidents involving distracted drivers. Well over 300,000 injury crashes reportedly involved driver distraction as well. In fact, actual numbers are generally assumed to be much higher since drivers do not always report the role that cell phones, GPS systems and other distractive devices played in their accidents.

Still, the number of distracted driving-related fatalities continues to increase from year to year. In 2005 the distracted driver-related fatality rate was estimated at 10 percent of all driving fatalities as compared to 16 percent in 2009.

Those are the numbers. The real stories behind the statistics can be seen in a video campaign developed by U.S. Department of Transportation called Faces of Distracted Drivers. Each video in this series offers testimonials from those affected by the accidents involving distracted drivers. Pretty powerful stuff.

I must add that while new technologies such as texting or GPS devices are usually targeted as the root cause of driver distractions, some point to the fact that newly implemented laws that ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving (in favor of hands-free devices) have “produced no impact on accident rates.” According to a piece published in the WSJ, it’s not that distraction doesn’t play a role in accidents – it does. It’s argued that drivers simply substitute one distraction for another. The rise of cell phone driving-related accidents is – according to the author – simply due to the increased use of cell phones in general.

Either way, the list of potential distractions seems to be on the increase. Despite some concerns, Onstar is about to introduce an application that will allow drivers to verbally update their Facebook status and review their messages while behind the wheel. Ford’s Sync technology will connect a variety of different GPS and smart phone applications with voice command. Not to be outdone, Toyota just announced future plans for its Entune Multimedia System which will allow drivers a “hands free” way to read text messages, play music and interact with other smart phone apps.

So like it or not, it appears that distractions will play a significant role in thousands of serious automobile accidents each year. Instead of banning distractions – an impossible task I suppose – I predict that we will turn instead to making cars and transportation systems smarter. Our cars will have sensors that keep our distractions from interfering with safe driving. Perhaps smart road signs and lane barriers will keep us on track while we text grandma that we are on the way to Thanksgiving dinner.

We are already seeing these types of intelligent traffic systems being installed and implemented. As I’ve pointed out in earlier posts, the proven traffic-calming effectiveness of radar speed signs – those digital displays that tell passing drivers their actual speed – is directly related to their ability to disrupt distractions and refocus driver attention back to their current rate of speed. Variable message signs that tell drivers to slow down or to watch for obstructions ahead are also examples of distraction-busting technology.

It’s a pretty safe bet that we will all see an increase in the number of gadgets and applications we will have to distract us on our drive. Until such times as technology completely takes over and our transportation becomes a completely hands free experience, we’ll see cities and towns across the country turn to smart displays and other intelligent traffic systems to help us safely reach our destinations.

Got a speeding ticket lately? Think it was unjust? Think that the only ones who really care about speeding are police officers looking to fill a quota?

Well, according to a new study by the California Office of Traffic Safety, you’d be wrong.

Radar Speed Signs - Driver Distraction Fighter

The study was the first statewide effort by the OTS to query drivers about their thoughts on road safety. Conducted back in July, the survey includes the results of 1,671 interviews of drivers 18 and over. Those chosen to participate in the survey were randomly selected while getting gas at one of sixty gas stations located throughout California.

Some of the survey findings were to be expected; others might be a bit of a surprise. The most notable finding was that 25 percent of respondents indicated that speeding is their number one safety concern on the road.  The second most common concern was drivers distracted by cell phone use – both talking and texting.

Of course, these findings serve to support the views of myself and other proponents of radar speed signs who believe these displays are often the best solution to traffic calming problems. Unlike static speed limit signs or flashing lights, radar speed signs redirect driver attention back to their own driving speeds. And unlike speed bumps, they do not impede emergency vehicles, increase traffic noise or simply divert traffic onto other streets. And for those opposed to “big brother” traffic calming tactics, radar speed signs typically work without the use of cameras and the associated threat of ticketing.

Other results of the survey include:

• While cell phone conversations were cited as the most serious distraction for drivers, more than 27 percent of respondents said that they still talked on a hand-held cell phone while driving in the past 30 days.
• 20 percent continue to text or email while driving despite the known dangers and laws.
• A total of 31.5 percent of respondents indicated that they talk less on cell phones since the hands-free law went into effect.
• Nearly 55 percent reported having been hit or nearly hit by a driver who was talking or texting on a cell phone.
• More than 86 percent of respondents supported sobriety checkpoints.
• More than 96 percent of respondents reported that they always wear a seat belt when driving.

Why radar speed signs work

We know they work. Over the past dozen years or so, a variety of studies have shown that radar speed signs are effective at slowing cars. In some of these studies, they rank the highest among traffic-calming strategies being tested – better than rumble strips, flashing lights and even speed bumps.

Even more impressive is the fact that research has shown that they continue to slow cars even years after first being installed. I remember speaking with a campus police chief at a prestigious east coast university who told me their SpeedCheck signs have been dependably slowing cars for the past five years. I remember that his inflection expressed puzzlement. He knew they worked, he just didn’t know why. Now we do.

A recent report entitled Distracted Drivers In School Zones, sponsored by Safe Kids USA, sheds a spotlight on what is most likely the answer – radar speed signs directly address issues related to driver distraction.

In their study, researchers had trained observers set along a variety of school zones to record evidence of driver distraction. If they saw a driver talking on a cell phone, they wrote it down. If they saw a driver turning around to talk to a child in the back seat, they wrote it down. At the end of the study, they found that one in six drivers traveling through an active school zone was in a state of distraction. One in six!

SpeedCheck signs break through the distractions and serve to refocus driver attention on his or her speed. And that distraction-busting phenomenon never wears out. A passing driver sees their posted speed displayed on the sign face and immediately reacts.

That’s not true for other traffic-calming devices. Rumble strips make noise but don’t give driver’s the same kind of direct feedback that makes them slow down. Either does school zone signs, cross walks, speed bumps or anything else except perhaps a policeman aiming a radar gun. And unlike traffic officers, SpeedCheck radar speed signs don’t mind working 24/7 or require lunch breaks. 

When considering solar power vs A/C powered radar speed signs, the choice usually comes down to price. Solar powered speed displays have the added costs associated with the solar panels and batteries needed to power the unit.

On the other hand, hooking up to an existing A/C power supply can be much more expensive. Even when a power source is nearby, the cost of tearing up roads and sidewalks, running wire and installing a meter if necessary, can raise the initial investment price even more.

Fortunately, the choice is getting easier. Thanks to evolving LED technology and smart product engineering, new radar speed signs are being introduced that dramatically improve the energy efficiency of the speed displays. Lower power requirements result in the need for fewer/smaller solar panels and batteries. Smaller solar panels mean a dramatic reduction in product costs.

The difference in price can be striking. For instance, Information Display Company recently announced they had increased the energy efficiency of their radar speed signs by 50 percent. As a result, the cost for a solar powered package needed to run the more efficient speed display is about $800 – compared to a similar display from another manufacturer that requires a solar package priced at about $2,200.

Like any new or evolving technology, implementation of advancements can be slow for some– choosing the most efficient, up-to-date, products may require a bit of extra research but the rewards (and savings) can be substantial.

Truckee California, Atlanta Georgia and Winnipeg, Canada are a few of the latest cities to deploy radar speed signs in a big way. The growing acceptance of these traffic-calming displays is particularly noteworthy given the correlating decline in the popularity of speedbumps and radar speed cameras.

radar speed signs' increasing popularity

According to Sam Katz, the mayor of Winnipeg, their recent installation of seven solar-powered radar speed signs is “anything but a cash grab,” – one of the major concerns of Winnepeg citizens opposed to speed cameras. Studies show that radar speed signs are highly effective at slowing cars without being obtrusive or financially threatening (spelled t.i.c.k.e.t). Katz made it clear that none of the new displays will take pictures or be used to issue tickets.

In California, the city of Truckee took advantage of funding provided by the federal Safe Routes to School program to buy and install six flashing crosswalk signs and radar speed signs. The displays are being permanently mounted along a busy school route and are intended to be operational in time for the 2010-11 school year.

And then last year, residents of Wildwood, Georgia, a city just North of downtown Atlanta, used the data collected by a radar speed sign to convince local police that there was a major speeding problem around their local school zones. Surprising to many who analyzed follow up data, that the majority of speeders were local residents. This, however, coincides with findings of numerous traffic-calming studies and highlights one of the key reasons radar speed signs work so well. Most speeders are just distracted drivers. Radar speed signs are an unobtrusive way to redirect driver attention to their current driving conditions. And that doesn’t require photos or ticketing.

Smile-you're on Arizona camera!

In our last post, we discussed the rising countrywide objection to radar speed cameras. While citizens are forming protests throughout the U.S., it seems that the epicenter of activities consistently comes from the good citizens of Arizona. I now know why.

Last week, a colleague and I had the opportunity (?) to conduct business in Arizona. We flew into Phoenix and then drove about 200 miles northwest to a little spit of a town in the dessert called Ash Fork. During the three-hour drive up Hwy 17 and across Hwy 89, we passed thousands of cactus, lots of sand, a few dead coyote carcasses and, every once in awhile, a passenger car or two. Oh yes, we also passed about 29 police cars (we started counting them) hiding off somewhere on the side of the virtually deserted highway route.  

We also passed one other thing. Out there in the middle of nowhere, where seeing other cars is so rare that it’s apparently customary to wave as you go by, we drove by several red light cameras! That’s right.  Apparently, the jackrabbits are tying up the state’s phone lines calling in complaints about speeders.  Either that, or I suspect that these cameras in the dessert are for no other purpose than to generate revenue for government coffers.

It’s understandable to me that a large number of Arizona citizens are outraged by this practice. While speeding can be a serious issue, so too can be the abusive and over zealous use of obtrusive technology.  And it looks like the good guys may have one a major victory.

As of this week, Arizona has decided to cancel its program to place radar speed cameras along Phoenix highways and in vans parked across the state. According to a recent news article, July 15th will be the final day for the 78 fixed and mobile photo-enforcement monitors employed by the state’s Department of Public Safety.

This doesn’t end the use of photo speed cameras entirely, as local government photo-enforcement contracts will still be in effect. However, in addition to the canceling the Phoenix-area project, there is a bill before the state’s governor that would also ban the use of photo speed cameras within 600 feet of a posted speed-limit change (except around school zones). If passed, the law would go into effect the end of July.

As we mentioned in our last post, speeding drivers has become a growing concern, especially around school zones, work zones, neighborhoods and other places where pedestrian and driver safety is at particular risk. That doesn’t seem to be the case here. More importantly, there are alternative ways to effectively slow cars and increase safety that do not conjure up feelings of Big Brother.  We of course, are fans of speedcheck radar speed signs. They are proven to be highly effective and do not require objectionable intrusions or pickpockets tactics.

To many Arizonians, the speed cameras had little to do with increasing safety and much to do with generating revenue.  In many cases, equipment providers are allotted a percentage of the income that these camera systems generate for the city/county/state. Now that’s just asking for abuse.

There is a growing opposition to the use of photo radar cameras that is sweeping the nation. Organizations such as Photo Radar Scam, CameraFraud and ACAPR are popping up across the country with one mission in mind – to make the use of photo radar illegal for traffic enforcement applications.

Over the last few years, their voices appear to be getting louder – and government officials are starting to take notice. Courts in Alaska, for instance, struck down as unconstitutional, the state’s use of photo radar signs. A judge in Denver, Colorado ruled that tickets issued on the bases of radar cameras were not legal and citizens in several cities in Maryland, Ohio and Texas recently began petition drives to ban the use of these devices.

So far, grass routes opposition to red light cameras has gotten them banned in over a dozen states including Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada and Wisconsin.

Group like Photo Radar Scam say their beef with the traffic enforcement technology is not about interfering with their ability to break traffic laws, but instead, about their effectiveness at reducing accidents, the legal constitutionality of their use, and their intrusive nature. More importantly, they believe photo cameras are used simply as a means of generating revenue for the cities where they are being used.

According to a recent news report, states like New York are using speed cameras to offset budget deficits. Governor David Paterson recently announced that he planned to install 50 new radar vans in the state of New York in hopes of generating $96 million in profit by 2012.

So where does this leave speedcheck radar speed signs?

Very well thank you. One of the nice things about speedcheck signs is that they typically do not take pictures of passing drivers or send speeding data to law enforcement for ticketing purposes. While many of these displays collect traffic data, they record only broad statistical information that can be used to calculate the effectiveness of the signs.

And they are effective. These unobtrusive displays simply remind drivers to check their speed and adjust accordingly. Several recent studies have shown that radar speed displays are one of the most effective means of slowing cars around neighborhoods, school zones, work zones and other places where pedestrian safety is of particular concern.

So when you see a radar speed sign, slow down and smile. You are NOT on candid camera but you are helping keep our streets safe.

Radar Speed Signs Increasing Work Zone Safety

I RECENTLY HAD a chance to speak with Tad Blanton, a field operations supervisor for Medford, Oregon’s Public Works. He manages four crews that work year round on every type of public works project you can imagine – from underground maintenance to structural repairs, paving and concrete work. Many of the projects take place outdoors alongside moving traffic.

He told me that about three years ago, he got a call from someone in the city’s electrical repairs department. The guy had just seen a demonstration of a speedcheck radar speed sign from Information Display Company and thought Tad should check it out himself…and he did.

After the demo, Tad spoke with the folks at IDC and arranged to have one of their speedcheck displays loaned out for a few weeks. Tad said that providence brought the radar speed sign to his department when it did. They were just about to begin work on a storm drain repair project that would have them in the middle of heavy traffic – traffic that could not be shut down or detoured.

Tad told me that his crew came back entirely surprised and enthusiastic about the radar speed display. They told him that the difference the display made in slowing cars and increasing safety was (and I quote) “absolutely unbelievable.”

Of course, the city has since purchased several speedcheck radar speed signs from Information Display Company. When I spoke to Tad, he told me that even the original speed display – the one they first received as a loaner -  is still working as well as it did the first day they used it - and that was three years ago.

Fact is, the Federal Highway Administration reports that nearly 1,000 people are killed and more than 40,000 injured each year as a result of motor vehicle crashes in work zones. The majority of these cases involve excessive speeds.

Add to this the fact that an estimated 20 percent of our national highway system is currently under construction, and you have a lot of potentially hazardous work zones (about 3,000 on U.S. highways alone) Add to that thousands more including work being done on public streets, around construction sites and on public works projects, and were looking at thousands of work zones across the U.S. and thousands of workers and drivers at increased risk.

While we all look forward to getting America back to work and having some upgrades made to our nation’s infrastructure, let’s not forget about the safety element. Tad and the city of Medford would agree that radar speed signs could have a huge impact on keeping both workers and drivers safer in work zones.