PURPOSES: Traffic cameras have been installed to reduce traffic accidents. The effectiveness of traffic cameras has been proved by dozens of studies, but recently questions over its effectiveness have been raised by a series of studies. In this study, the effectiveness of traffic cameras was analyzed with a focus on different road environments.
METHODS : The effectiveness of the traffic cameras was analyzed by extracting the occurence frequency before and after camera installation. The effect of reduction was analyzed comprehensively considering the installation position, monitoring direction, and surrounding environment of traffic cameras.
RESULTS : The result of this study is as follows. First, the installation of cameras in an area with relatively low accidental traffic was more effective. Secondly, the effect of camera installation on car-to-pedestrian collisions was better than that of car-to-car collisions. Thirdly, accidents tended to occur more frequently when cameras were installed in front of the accident-prone owing to the negative spill-over effect.
CONCLUSIONS: The result can be used to guide placement of traffic cameras. Moreover, the installation of cameras with consideration of the road environment is expected to contribute to a reduction in traffic fatalities.