The Baltimore Department of Transportation is currently installing six speed cameras on the JFX. Naturally, some are opposed while others favor this decision. The question becomes: does the JFX need speed cameras?
Unfortunately, speeding has been an issue for the JFX, even before the pandemic. Going back to February 2019, the Baltimore Sun reported at that time, “The rate of crashes on the Jones Falls Expressway/Interstate 83 in Baltimore is more than double that of comparable Maryland highways. An average of nearly 38 crashes per mile occurred on the elevated, winding highway each year between 2010 and 2014, as opposed to about 16 per mile each year on other Maryland highways…”
Since the pandemic started, however, the sad reality is that Baltimore, as well as the rest of the U.S., is in the midst of an epidemic as a result of speed related fatalities. Data shows that traffic deaths grew nationwide in 2020 to 38,680, or about 7.2%, even though there was a 13.2% reduction in the number of miles traveled, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates. It was the deadliest year on highways since 2007.
Particularly mind-boggling is that traffic fatalities actually increased – at a time when traffic volume was cut in half. Police agencies – from Baltimore to Beverly Hills – reported more speed-related crashes. Average speeds increased significantly above posted limits as roads saw less traffic. One Maryland officer reported some going as high as 130 miles per hour with the average speeder traveling at 90 miles per hour.
Sadly, these trends continued into 2022. In Baltimore alone, the city’s crash rate is 370% the statewide rate, and the fatality rate is 40% higher than New York City.
Studies clearly show that higher speeds result in greater impact at the time of a crash, leading to more severe injuries and fatalities. This condition is especially concerning for more vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians.
The other issue with higher speeds: the risk of death for a pedestrian increases as speeds rise. A person has a 90% chance of survival when being hit in the 20 to 25 miles per hour range, but that drops to only a 50% chance of survival if being hit in the 40 to 45 miles per hour range.
Because higher speeds increase fatalities, new approaches in speed management are needed to reduce roadway fatalities and increase the safety of all road users.
Many factors contribute to a driver choosing to speed. A NHTSA driving study showed that driver motivations, attitudes, and beliefs are highly significant predictors of which drivers speed and how much they speed. Several studies identified that being impatient with other drivers, wanting to get where they are going as fast as possible, enjoying driving fast, and believing that driving fast was not dangerous for skilled drivers as speed contributing attitudes.
When drivers are travelling at higher speeds, they require more time to react once they see changes in the road environment ahead. And with the twists and turns of the JFX, these response times are shortened even further.
While most are not wild about speed cameras, the reality is they help encourage motorists to slow down, particularly in high-risk areas such as school zones or popular pedestrian or cycling routes. Cameras are also a popular solution for highways, particularly in safety-challenged areas, such as toll booths and areas where the roadway is narrowed.
Study after study has proven that the effectiveness of speed cameras and slowing cars down encourage safer driving and reduce crashes and injuries. Speed camera programs reinforce traffic safety and enforce speed limits. They are needed now more than ever as speeding and traffic-related fatalities continue to increase.