Promoting Fair and Safe Roads: How Cameras Can Help Reduce Racial Disparities in Traffic Stops

A recent study by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences sheds light on a critical issue: racial disparities in traffic stops. Researchers compared data from camera-generated speeding tickets, police stops, and anonymized phone location information to understand how race factors into who gets pulled over.

The findings are clear:

• Cameras Enforce Fairly: While Black drivers did receive speeding tickets from cameras, the distribution generally reflected the overall driver demographics on those roads. This suggests cameras enforce the law impartially.
• Disparity in Police Stops: However, police stops showed a different trend. In the study, Black drivers were more likely to be pulled over than White drivers, even after accounting for other factors. This points to potential bias in policing.

These findings affirm our knowledge of the benefits of automated enforcement and highlight the potential to promote more equitable traffic enforcement. The benefits of automated enforcement go beyond just the study:

• Reduced Racial Bias: Cameras don’t discriminate. They enforce speed limits and other traffic laws objectively, regardless of the driver’s race.
• Increased Safety: Studies consistently show camera programs lead to a decrease in speeding violations and accidents, making roads safer for everyone.
• Frees Up Police Resources: Cameras can handle routine traffic enforcement, freeing up police officers to focus on more complex situations and community engagement.

With decades of experience, this study helps to highlight some of the key messages that our company works to promote.  Road safety is a holistic and it benefits all communities to consider several factors when delivering a safety camera program.

1. Be transparent to the community: Camera programs should be implemented transparently, with clear signage and community input on placement. That’s why we work closely with all of our clients to promote an extensive public information campaign and to communicate the need and data to the community.
2. Focus on Safety: The goal of camera enforcement should always be to improve road safety, not generate revenue.
3. Data Privacy: Data collected by cameras should be protected with robust privacy measures. At Verra Mobility, we hold this as fundamental to the privacy of not only each of our customers, but to all citizens.

This study is a crucial step towards a fairer and safer transportation system. By embracing camera enforcement alongside continued efforts to address racial bias in policing, we can create roads where everyone feels protected and respected.