BACKGROUND

Speed is a crucial factor in the probability of crashes occurring and crash severity. Automated speed enforcement (ASE) has been shown to reduce speeding and speed-related motor vehicle crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified automated enforcement as a speed management countermeasure in their Highway Safety Countermeasure Guide for State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs). The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) also lists speed cameras as part of their collection of proven safety countermeasures. ASE is a valuable tool that can help SHSOs and local agencies reduce speeding, speed-related crashes, and crash severity.

Many states and local jurisdictions are considering the use of speed cameras to reduce the frequency and severity of vulnerable road user crashes. However, the effects of ASE on crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists is a gap in the research literature. Research is needed to quantify safety impacts and inform implementation strategies, and develop a better understanding of the influence of roadway context.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research is to develop a guide for SHSOs and other stakeholders that:

1. Quantifies the effects of ASE on crashes involving pedestrians, bicyclists, and other nonmotorized users;
2. Examines how roadway context and related factors influence the safety impacts of ASE; and
3. Identifies key considerations for planning and implementing ASE programs to improve safety for vulnerable road users.

RESEARCH PLAN

The BTSCRP is seeking the insights of proposers on how best to achieve the research objective. Proposers are expected to describe research plans that can realistically be accomplished within the constraints of available funds and subaward time. Proposals must represent the proposers’ current thinking described in sufficient detail to demonstrate their understanding of the issues and the soundness of their approach in meeting the research objective. The work proposed must be divided into tasks and/or phases. Proposers must describe the work proposed in each phase and task in detail. 

The research plan should build in appropriate checkpoints with the BTSCRP project panel including, at a minimum, (1) a kick-off teleconference meeting to be held within 1 month of the subaward’s execution date; (2) at least one face-to-face interim deliverable review meeting as well as web-enabled teleconferences tied to panel review and/or BTSCRP approval of interim deliverables. Interim Report No. 1 shall include (1) a data archiving and sharing plan and (2) an annotated outline for the guide. 

Costs for the face-to-face meeting venue and travel costs for BTSCRP panel members to attend the meetings will be paid by BTSCRP. Costs for research team members to attend interim meeting(s) should be included in the detailed budget. 

It is anticipated the research plan shall include (but not be limited to) the following activities: 

1. Review and summarize domestic and international literature relevant to effects of ASE on crashes involving pedestrians, bicyclists, and other nonmotorized users
2. Collect and analyze data from selected domestic jurisdictions across diverse geographic areas to reliably assess effects of ASE on crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists; and evaluate effects on pedestrian and bicyclist injury severity
3. Assess the extent crash effects can be discerned from available data sources for crashes involving e-bikes, e-scooters, and other electrically powered micromobility devices
4. Assess how factors such as (1) roadway context and (2) program design and implementation, including criteria for the selection of speed camera locations, may influence crash effects 

The research plan shall conduct these (and any other) activities across the following three required phases: 

PHASE I — Literature review, propose data sources and data analysis methods

PHASE II — Data collection and analysis

PHASE III — Prepare final deliverables 

The final deliverables shall include, but not be limited to:    

1. A guide; a draft guide shall be submitted at least 6 months prior to the end of the subaward;
2. Outreach materials to support stakeholders’ understanding and use of the research findings;
3. A conduct of research report that documents the entire research effort;
4. A PowerPoint presentation with speaker notes summarizing the research findings; and
5. A technical memorandum on implementation (see item IV). 

Note: Following receipt of the draft final deliverables, the remaining 3 months shall be for BTSCRP review and comment and for research agency preparation of the final deliverables. 

< < < IMPORTANT > > >

I.   The brochure Information and Instructions for Preparing Proposals for the Transportation Research Board’s Cooperative Research Programs includes extensive guidance on the preparation of proposals for submission to CRP. Revisions to these instructions are highlighted in yellow within that document.

II.  Proposals will be rejected if any of the proposed research team members work for organizations represented on the project panel. The panel roster for this project can be found at https://www.mytrb.org/OnlineDirectory/Committee/Details/7383. Proposers may not contact panel members directly; this roster is provided solely for the purpose of avoiding potential conflicts of interest.

III. The text of the final deliverable is expected to be publication ready when it is submitted. It is strongly recommended that the research team include the expertise of a technical editor as early in the project timeline as possible. See Appendix F of the Procedural Manual for Subawardees Conducting Research in the Transportation Research Board’s Cooperative Research Programs for technical editing standards expected in final deliverables.

IV. The required technical memorandum titled “Implementation of Research Findings and Products” should (a) provide recommendations on how to best put the research findings/products into practice; (b) identify possible institutions that might take leadership in applying the research findings/products; (c) identify issues affecting potential implementation of the findings/products and recommend possible actions to address these issues; and (d) recommend methods of identifying and measuring the impacts associated with implementation of the findings/products. Implementation of these recommendations is not part of the research project and, if warranted, details of these actions will be developed and implemented in future efforts.

V.  The National Academies have an ethical and legal obligation to provide proper attribution whenever material from other sources is included in their reports, online postings, and other publications and products. TRB will review all Cooperative Research Programs draft final deliverables using the software iThenticate for potential plagiarism. If plagiarized text appears in the draft final deliverable, the research team will be required to make revisions and the opportunity to submit future proposals may be affected.