Importance of Traffic Cameras - Research Paper Example

Traffic Cameras Introduction Traffic cameras are automatic cameras installed at road intersections, along a road channel, or on a detective vehicle in order to detect traffic violations. There exist two categories of violations namely traffic infractions and criminal traffic offenses. Traffic infractions are the personal violations that individuals commit and have no imprison able criminal elements. Such acts include exceeding the speed limit that a given state stipulates or driving with invalid or expired license. Criminal traffic offenses, on the other hand, are the violations that normally lead to imprisonment they include reckless driving, vehicle assault and driving under drug influence. Such offenses are chargeable in the courts of law as stipulated by the laws in the constitutions of the given State. In an attempt to avoid hazards and negative outcomes associated with the absence of traffic cameras at major road intersections, the governments should install the gadgets to reduce accidents and enhance security among other benefits. Reduction in Accidents Road traffic collisions are accountable for 1.2 million deaths and approximately 50 million injuries annually according to the approximations by the World Health organization (Cinnamon et al. 1). Cinnamon et al. claims that motorists and pedestrians from frequent observations commit road rule violations at signalized intersections. The accidents are a major drawback to the various states as it leads to loss of scarce human resource through the deaths that normally occur. In addition, mechanical and infrastructural destructions that the intersection accidents bring along lead to infrastructural related losses and thus derail a State’s economy. A designed means of observing and monitoring traffic flow along the intersections can help in minimizing the frequency of the accidents’ occurrence. Therefore, most of the states with the need to eliminate accidents along the intersections should install the traffic cameras in order to help reduce the losses accompanying it. An argument about the sure effectiveness of the installation of the traffic cameras is relevant. A pilot installation is essential in addition to the numerous researches done that fully advocate traffic cameras as the best mechanism in reducing associated accidents. Due to the higher need to reduce the number of traffic accidents in major road intersections, installation of traffic cameras is recommendable. Reduction in Economic losses The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) calculates that the traffic along the intersections causes more than 100,000 crashes and 1000 fatalities yearly. That results in an approximate economic loss of over $ 14 billion annually in America (Fitzsimmons et al. 984). $ 14 billion annual is a bigger figure hence most economies must strive to eliminate and design possible means of eliminating the causes of the intersection crashes. Fitzsimmons et al. reports in their journal after a vigorous research that the best impact of traffic cameras is reduction in crashes (Fitzsimmons et al. 986). Most economies and States in need of maintaining and raising the standards of their economies should install the traffic cameras. From a different perspective, the installation of the traffic cameras comes at a price. The expensive cost of installation may lead some States to be reluctant in the installation. However, evaluation of the long-term importance and value makes the traffic cameras a necessity at the major traffic intersections. Fitzsimmons et al summarizes in figures the estimated figures drastic reduction in the number of traffic violations with the installation of the cameras. In the instance with and without the cameras installed, the expected mean number of violations equals 0.3721 and 9.3336 respectively. The high disparity in the figures indicating a massive reduction in traffic violations is a proof of the need for traffic cameras in major road intersections (Fitzsimmons et al. 988). Improved traffic Efficiency and reduction in traffic Congestion The escalating traffic congestion leads to uncertainties in travel time raising the need to probe travel time reliability in validating the efficiency of the transport system. VISSIM software presented a microscopic traffic simulation model used in assessing the impact of various demand and supply variations on travel time reliability. The findings were 5.3 and six times for the cases of increase in demand, and lane closed about half an hour respectively (Sekhar et al. 319). The efficiency of the road network reduces with increase in travel time. The increase in travel time results from traffic congestions that arise due to lack of a controlled automated system of monitoring and controlling the vehicles. That makes the cameras installation a primary requirement in order to curb such a shortcoming. Most countries' imports and export commodities transit via the various road intersections. Some of the commodities are very fragile, and a slight delay in the transit time may render such commodities stale. That reason makes the installation of traffic cameras along the road intersections a basic requirement in order to ensure a smooth traffic flow. On the other, hand a faultiness of the controlled system may lead to its failure and may execute the reverse command leading to worse and severe extremes of losses. Such extremes are avoidable by regular maintenance of the systems hence raising the effectiveness and the efficiency of the system. Enhancement of Security Most States are capable of identifying terrorism and other security concerns at the road intersections using the traffic cameras. The earlier identification of the security concerns prompts quicker and timely response thereby enhancing security. For instance, the Texas Department of Transportation (DOT) uses traffic camera systems to quickly identify problems and provide the appropriate response (Hakim 230). That makes the installation of the cameras at the road intersections a vital tool in enhancing the security of the state. On a contrary view, terrorist attacks remain a threat to many economies despite the installation of the traffic cameras. That is an indication that such concerns are not fully solvable only by the installation of the traffic cameras. The cameras credit only in reducing their percentage through the close monitoring that transpires. The security aspects being emerging concerns to most countries, it is of the fundamental need to install the traffic cameras at the major road intersections. Traffic Control and Effective Management The different States should impose strict regulations in order to manage and govern traffic flow. Traffic cameras control and manage a smooth flow of traffic eliminating vehicle-vehicle or vehicle-road collisions. Without the collisions, we draw conclusions that the traffic cameras smoothly and effectively manage and control traffic flow eliminating jams. Decrease speeding and encourage careful driving Other provisions incorporated with the traffic cameras have the capability of checking and ensuring that drivers drive at the stipulated speeds. That eliminates reckless driving and provides a motivation to drive safely, and in effect helps in reducing the accident statistics. Violators tracked and captured charged under the strict rules imposed against traffic offenses. Monitoring drunken driving is mad easier and prevented before it escalates to the extreme ends like death. That makes the traffic cameras very essential along the traffic intersections. Every state should install them in order to manage and reduce the mortality statistics resulting from the accidents to a minimum. Systematic Flow of Traffic De-la-Rocha and R Palacios claim in their journal that most severe car accidents occurring in urban environments involve side impacts at the street intersections (De-la-Rocha., et al. 293). They recommend the imposing of a small delay in order to achieve a systematic flow in the traffic. The delay control is manageable using programmable traffic cameras. The cameras help in reducing the statistics registered under the side impact collisions, head on collisions or pedestrians-vehicle accidents that may arise. These prove the vital necessity of installation of traffic cameras at the major intersections. The delay arguably impacts negatively on the motorists who may feel have a feeling losing a lot of time in traffic. On the other hand, the lifesaver systematic control by the traffic cameras reduces accidents hence bears more significance comparable. Therefore, most states should embrace the system in order to help curb the associated effects. Conclusion Through the variety of ways, traffic cameras solve a variety of economy derailing aspects in different states. The states should install them along the traffic intersections in order to realize a stable economy and to keep on check the associated mortality ratio. Works Cited Cinnamon, Jonathan, Nadine Schuurman, and S. Morad Hameed. "Pedestrian Injury And Human Behaviour: Observing Road-Rule Violations At High-Incident Intersections." Plos ONE 6.6 (2011): 1-10. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Nov. 2014. De-la-Rocha, E, and R Palacios. "Speed Estimation Of Vehicles Approaching An Intersection: A Digital Image Processing Method." Imaging Science Journal 59.5 (2011): 293-302. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Nov. 2014. Fitzsimmons, Eric J., et al. "Investigation Of Violation Reduction At Intersection Approaches With Automated Red Light Running Enforcement Cameras In Clive, Iowa, Using A Cross-Sectional Analysis." Journal Of Transportation Engineering 135.12 (2009): 984-989. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Nov. 2014. Hakim, Simon, and Erwin A. Blackstone. Safeguarding Homeland Security: Governors and Mayors Speak Out. New York: Springer, 2009. Print. Sekhar, Ch. Ravi, et al. "Analysis Of Travel Time Reliability Of An Urban Corridor Using Micro Simulation Techniques." Current Science (00113891) 105.3 (2013): 319-329. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Nov. 2014. Read More