The effect of automated speed cameras on fatal traffic collisions in Kuwait

Improvements to highway safety are a high priority for highway authorities due to the social and economic costs of traffic collisions. The main objective of this research work was to compare the safety performance on road sections near automated speed cameras (ASCs) with other road sections and to examine the safety effect of ASCs measured in terms of fatal traffic collision frequency, using data from Kuwait. This research work established the most comprehensive fatal collision database for Kuwait that can be used to identify locations with history of high fatal collision frequency. The database was incorporated into geographic information system (GIS) platform for easy geographic manipulation and display of the data. Collision prediction models were developed to assess the effect of ASCs, as measured in frequency of fatal traffic collisions. The results of the statistical analysis showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between fatal collisions and ASCs for zones with 2,000-m radius. The models indicated a trend of higher fatal collision frequencies for zones with ASCs compared to similar zones without ASCs. This finding may have been the result of locating the ASCs in areas with a history of high fatal collision or locations with higher potential for fatal collisions.