Philadelphia Deems Speed Camera Project a Success

Local leaders in Philadelphia are calling on the state to renew legislation that would allow the city to continue its speed camera program, which the city says reduced speeding violations by 93 percent, writes Beccah Hendrickson for ABC 6. “The city also argues the cameras are making the boulevard safer. In 2019, there were 510 crashes along the road, which dropped to 360 in 2020 after the cameras were installed.”

Critics of the program say the cameras unfairly cite drivers and put a burden on low-income residents, but city leaders want to install them on more streets. The program has collected $22.8 million in fines since 2020.

Speed cameras have proven to be a divisive issue among traffic safety advocates, residents, and policymakers. While some argue that automated enforcement improves safety and reduces the need for personal interactions between drivers and law enforcement, others say they unfairly target communities of color and put undue financial burdens on residents who can become trapped in a cycle of debt. Others have pointed out that results from speed camera programs correlate with infrastructure—that is, communities that lack safe crosswalks, sidewalks, and traffic calming measures are likely to see more speeding tickets, highlighting a need for more robust and equitable investment in road safety projects.