Israel has spent hundreds of millions of shekels over the past three years in deploying a network of high-speed cameras and traffic light cameras that also function as high-speed cameras for the purpose of achieving a significant reduction in traffic accidents and damage caused by speeding drivers.
To date, however, the state has presented no concrete figures about the success and effectiveness of these cameras in carrying out their task. A comprehensive annual traffic safety report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published on its website in recent days on the reveals why.
The section devoted to Israel, based on government figures, states, "There is no estimation of the share of speed-related crashes." The section also states, "In 2014 there was a significant share of non-compliance with speed limits on all non-urban road types."
The only research data appearing in the report about the cameras show that their main effect was that "Speed was reduced around the speed cameras (1 km before and after)."
In other words, two years after more than 120 cameras were placed, their effectiveness is negligible, and the state has no concrete data about their effect on the violation they were designed to prevent. Furthermore, their effectiveness, if any, is restricted to isolated cases.
The state is currently about to put into operation dozens of new Gatso cameras stationed along the Ayalon Highway in the central region designed to enforce the rules reserving lanes for public transportation. These cameras, however, are being converted for use as high-speed cameras seven days a week. The report, however, does positively cite one development in Israel's road safety policy: measures for detecting drunk drivers have been substantially stepped up.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 21, 2015
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