BMJ  2005;330:331-334 (12 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.38324.646574.AE (published 14 January 2005)

Paper

Effectiveness of speed cameras in preventing road traffic collisions and related casualties: systematic review

¹ University of the West of England, Faculty of Health and Social Care, Bristol BS16 1DD, ² Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol

Objectives To assess whether speed cameras reduce road traffic collisions and related casualties.

Design Systematic review.

Data sources Cochrane Injuries Group Specialised Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, Embase, Social Science Citation Index, TRANSPORT database, ZETOC, the internet (including websites of road safety and motoring organisations), and contact with key individuals and organisations.

Main outcome measures Road traffic collisions, injuries, and deaths.

Inclusion criteria Controlled trials and observational studies assessing the impact of fixed or mobile speed cameras on any of the selected outcomes.

Results 14 observational studies met the inclusion criteria; no randomised controlled trials were found. Most studies were before-after studies without controls (n = 8). All but one of the studies showed effectiveness of cameras up to three years or less after their introduction; one study showed sustained longer term effects (4.6 years after introduction). Reductions in outcomes across studies ranged from 5% to 69% for collisions, 12% to 65% for injuries, and 17% to 71% for deaths in the immediate vicinity of camera sites. The reductions over wider geographical areas were of a similar order of magnitude.

Conclusions Existing research consistently shows that speed cameras are an effective intervention in reducing road traffic collisions and related casualties. The level of evidence is relatively poor, however, as most studies did not have satisfactory comparison groups or adequate control for potential confounders. Controlled introduction of speed cameras with careful data collection may offer improved evidence of their effectiveness in the future.

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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Safe Speed response

Paul Smith
bmj.com, 11 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Response to Safe Speed

Paul Pilkington
bmj.com, 11 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Time to move the debate on

Paul R Dishman
bmj.com, 12 Feb 2005 [Full text]

oxymoron

Andrew G Montgomery
bmj.com, 12 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Mental health implications

Paul Oxley
bmj.com, 12 Feb 2005 [Full text]

"No Commercial Interest"

Tristram J Torrance
bmj.com, 13 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Re: oxymoron /Speed cameras

Hilary Butler
bmj.com, 13 Feb 2005 [Full text]

A better use of technology

Steven Ford
bmj.com, 14 Feb 2005 [Full text]

A SIMPLE STUDY-STOP AND REINTRODUCE

john s ashcroft
bmj.com, 14 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Does this paper enhance the credibility of the BMJ?

Rowland L Cottingham
bmj.com, 14 Feb 2005 [Full text]

An illusion of safety?

John P Heptonstall
bmj.com, 14 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Re: Does this paper enhance the credibility of the BMJ?

Andy P Langton
bmj.com, 14 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Speed cameras are effective?

Keith D Jones
bmj.com, 16 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Re: Does this paper enhance the credibility of the BMJ?

John P. Heptonstall
bmj.com, 16 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Re: Does this paper enhance the credibility of the BMJ?

Peter A Davis
bmj.com, 16 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Comment

Steve Goodacre
bmj.com, 16 Feb 2005 [Full text]

A study without bias?

David Dorn
bmj.com, 17 Feb 2005 [Full text]

kill your car not a child

James D Woodcock
bmj.com, 22 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Re: kill your car not a child

John P Heptonstall
bmj.com, 22 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Re: kill your car not a child

Peter Morrell
bmj.com, 23 Feb 2005 [Full text]

A (very) carelessly wielded cosh

Alfred P J Lake
bmj.com, 24 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Re: kill your car not a child

P Smith
bmj.com, 24 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Re: Re: kill your car not a child

Peter Morrell
bmj.com, 25 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: kill your car not a child

David Dorn
bmj.com, 26 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Speed Cameras Are Money Makers First

Dr. Herbert H. Nehrlich
bmj.com, 26 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: kill your car not a child

Paul Smith
bmj.com, 26 Feb 2005 [Full text]

re: kill your car not a child

James D Woodcock
bmj.com, 27 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Re: kill your car not a child

Peter Morrell
bmj.com, 27 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: kill your car not a child

Paul Smith
bmj.com, 28 Feb 2005 [Full text]

Automated traffic law enforcement

Ediriweera B.R., Desapriya, et al.
bmj.com, 1 Mar 2005 [Full text]

Re: Automated traffic law enforcement

Dr. Herbert H. Nehrlich
bmj.com, 2 Mar 2005 [Full text]

A few responses...

David Dorn
bmj.com, 2 Mar 2005 [Full text]

Re: A few responses...

James D Woodcock
bmj.com, 3 Mar 2005 [Full text]

In reply to James D Woodcock

David Dorn
bmj.com, 4 Mar 2005 [Full text]

Re: In reply to James D Woodcock

James D Woodcock
bmj.com, 10 Mar 2005 [Full text]

Woodcock and Dorn...

David Dorn
bmj.com, 11 Mar 2005 [Full text]

Please keep it factual and on track

Robert A Brookbanks
bmj.com, 18 Apr 2005 [Full text]

confounding factors

James B Norwood
bmj.com, 2 May 2005 [Full text]