Starting in 2018, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications began planning the “Section Speed Camera” traffic safety policy. This policy expands speed detection from a single point to a continuous line, aiming to deter speeding and reduce traffic accidents caused by it. The policy was officially announced in 2019, and since then, it has been implemented and expanded to various accident-prone roads across Taiwan.
The original intention behind section speed cameras was to prevent accidents caused by speeding, a well-meaning goal from a safety perspective. However, certain avoidance behaviors by some Taiwanese drivers have led to traffic congestion on some sections of roads, sparking public debate. So, what exactly is a section speed camera? How does it calculate if a vehicle is speeding? Besides catching speeders, what other applications does the system offer for smart transportation and road monitoring? This article will answer these questions one by one, giving you a complete understanding.
What is Average Speed Enforcement (Point-to-Point Speed Measurement)?
A section speed camera system sets a fixed distance on a road and compares the average speed of a vehicle over that distance with the posted speed limit to determine if the vehicle is speeding. The basic principle is “distance” divided by “time” equals “speed.” Traffic enforcement agencies install automated license plate recognition (ALPR or ANPR) cameras at the beginning and end of a specific road section. When a vehicle passes a point, the camera captures its license plate and records the time. The license plate information is then transmitted via 4G wireless to a cloud server for recognition. Since the vehicle has been photographed at both the start and end of the section, the back-end cloud system can compare the data and, if the speed exceeds the limit, issue a speeding ticket. This is how the section speed camera system enforces speed limits.
For example:
- The distance between point A and point B is 10 kilometers.
- A vehicle passes point A at 17:45:15 and point B at 17:51:15, completing the section in 6 minutes.
- The speed limit is 100 km/h.
Speed = distance / time. The vehicle travels 10 kilometers in 6 minutes (6 minutes = 6/60 = 0.1 hours), so its speed is 100 km/h (10 km / 0.1 hr = 100 km/h), which is not considered speeding. If the travel time is less than 6 minutes, it means the speed is over 100 km/h, and the vehicle will be recorded for speeding when it exits the section.
📖 Further Reading：How to Choose an Automated License Recognition System: What to Consider
Comparison of Section Speed Cameras and Fixed Speed Cameras
Section Speed Cameras: They calculate speeding based on “average speed over a section.” This involves measuring the time a vehicle takes to travel a fixed distance to determine its average speed. This method reduces variations in vehicle speeds and encourages drivers to maintain a consistent speed within the legal limit, which helps reduce traffic congestion and accidents. Because they use average speed, their monitoring range can be significantly larger. If license plate cameras are installed at every on-ramp and off-ramp of a highway, the entire highway can be monitored for speeding, completely eliminating distance limitations.
Fixed Speed Cameras: Currently, most speed enforcement in Taiwan relies on fixed and mobile radar speed cameras. However, with the rapid development of dash cams and navigation systems that provide real-time updates on camera locations, many drivers intentionally slow down when approaching a camera and then speed up again after passing it. This limits the effectiveness of speed enforcement to a very short distance. This behavior also creates another problem: abrupt braking to avoid a camera can lead to rear-end collisions, causing traffic issues.
📖 Further Reading：Mobile License Plate Recognition Enforcement System
Applications for Average Speed Enforcement Systems in Smart Transportation and Road Monitoring
With rapid economic growth and a massive increase in vehicles, effective transportation management has become a crucial element of a smart city. To accurately measure traffic congestion and provide real-time solutions, most transportation departments are actively deploying and expanding traffic flow sensing systems. The goal is to proactively provide citizens and drivers with congestion alerts and other traffic information. Therefore, smart transportation is a prominent field within the development of AI. Section speed camera systems, combined with AI-powered video analytics, can provide valuable information for smart transportation and road monitoring:
- Travel Time Measurement and Estimation
The system can instantly determine the travel time for each vehicle on a given section. By statistically averaging the travel times of all vehicles during a specific period, it can calculate the average speed and use this data to estimate the travel time for that road section. The system can then use 4G wireless transmission to display the estimated travel time on electronic signboards, offering drivers a reference for their route. - Traffic Jam Measurement and Prediction
By statistically averaging the travel times of vehicles in a section in real-time, the system can determine if a traffic jam is occurring if the average speed falls below a predefined value. It can also define the severity of the congestion based on set parameters. This information can then be sent via 4G wireless transmission to display boards, providing drivers with information to consider alternative routes. - Traffic Flow Statistics and Prediction
The system has a traffic counting function that can statistically count traffic flow 24/7 and display the data in charts. This allows users to clearly see traffic volumes for each time period. Based on statistical analysis of this data, traffic flow can be predicted, providing a basis for adjusting traffic control measures and reducing congestion time. - Real-time Traffic Condition Alerts
Using smart cameras with video analysis capabilities, the system can automatically send alerts to a central command center when it detects vehicles driving in the wrong direction, pedestrians entering the roadway, or traffic accidents. This allows traffic enforcement personnel to take immediate and effective action.
📖 Further Reading：Learn About the TrafficView® Section Speed Camera System
Conclusion
Speeding is not the only cause of traffic accidents; other factors like drunk driving, fatigued driving, and distracted driving also contribute significantly. However, speeding is undeniably a critical factor. The saying “nine out of ten accidents are caused by speeding, the other one is an accident” holds true. Furthermore, section speed cameras can significantly reduce the burden on police for traffic enforcement, and they more strictly enforce speed limits over a wider detection range. Of course, the best way to reduce traffic accidents is for the public to follow the law and maintain an appropriate speed. This also helps avoid penalties, a win-win situation for everyone.