Citation

Cooper PJ. Transp. Res. Rec. 1975; 540: 13-21.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1975, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

The study described in this paper was initiated in 1972 in an attempt to define the nature and magnitude of the effects on driver behavior and safety resulting from increased levels of enforcement of traffic laws. A major purpose of the study was to investigate the increased benefits to be obtained from higher enforcement levels to determine how police can be cost effectively employed. The results of the study indicated that visible police presence at an urban intersection can significantly reduce the incidence of traffic violations. This effect appeared to be restricted to the time of actual police presence; it disappeared almost immediately after the police left. Traffic conflicts were recorded as representing a measure of safety, but, although their effects were similar to those on violations, results were not judged significant. Based on effectiveness in reducing violations the most significant improvement occurred in employing a single policeman for a period of 1 h/day. Further increases in effort did not produce appreciable further improvement.

Language: en