The Effects of Saturation Enforcement on Speed(ing) Along a Highway Corridor: Results from a Police-Directed Field Study

Abstract

Abstract Speed is a well-documented predictor of traffic collisions. The present research evaluates the effects of saturation enforcement by police on speed(ing) along a highway corridor in Western Canada. As part of the field study, six radar-recording devices were installed at three different locations along the intervention site (i.e., before, at, and after enforcement). During the pre-test period, vehicle speeds were passively recorded without any saturation enforcement. During the enforcement period, uniformed police officers in marked police vehicles conducted saturation enforcement at the enforcement site while vehicle speeds continued to be recorded. The analyses revealed that the average speed of vehicles was lower during the enforcement period than the pre-test period as well as lower at the enforcement site than before or after such site. The analyses also revealed a similar pattern in findings when the proportion of speeding vehicles was used as the dependent variable. Saturation enforcement by police can thus exhibit at least some effect on speed(ing) along a highway corridor. Given contemporary policing’s emphasis on road safety, this research contributes to both scholarly and practical discussions regarding police and their effectiveness.