Status: Research Underway
Traffic enforcement has changed in recent years, and many agencies are seeing reduced enforcement activity, which raises important questions about how these shifts affect roadway safety. States need a clearer understanding of whether changes in enforcement levels are linked to changes in crashes, injuries or fatalities. Without this evidence, it is difficult to prioritize enforcement strategies or invest resources where they will have the greatest impact.
This project will identify how traffic enforcement activity has changed and will quantify how those changes relate to safety outcomes. The research will examine recent enforcement trends and associate them with corresponding changes in crashes, injuries and fatalities. The goal is to determine whether reduced enforcement is connected to measurable differences in safety.
The project will use statistical comparisons to identify potentially significant factors and guide future investments in enforcement. These analyses will help policing agencies and state highway safety offices understand which enforcement activities are most promising for specific driving behaviors and violations.
The project will contribute to the broader body of knowledge about the effectiveness of traffic enforcement and will help states calibrate enforcement strategies based on evidence.
