Estonian police: speed cameras deter speeding but do not solve the problem
A senior official of Estonia's Police and Border Guard Board says warning signs ahead of mobile speed cameras have reduced recorded violations, but this does not mean drivers speed less often.
Warning signs placed ahead of mobile speed cameras have noticeably changed road violation statistics in Estonia. Sirle Loigo, head of the road supervision unit at the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), stresses that fewer recorded fines do not mean drivers are speeding less often.
Speaking on the programme "Great Four", she said there is no evidence that speeding has declined. According to the latest study by the Transport Administration, 77% of drivers exceed the speed limit at least in some situations, and the share of speeders is growing on roads of different categories. Camera data only show that fewer violations were detected over the past month, which is too short a period to draw conclusions about road safety.
Effect limited to the camera location
Loigo explained that cameras effectively restrain speed right at the enforcement spot. When drivers see a warning sign in advance, there are very few violations there, or none at all. No detailed studies yet exist on how drivers' speed changes after passing a camera, but, in her words, sooner or later drivers stop observing the limit.
Purpose of the change
The aim of the change was to reduce the number of fine notices that may stem from a driver's brief lapse of attention. Loigo stressed that this does not mean the state considers minor speeding acceptable. Speed limits remain unchanged, and each driver remains personally responsible for their driving. The threshold only determines when a violation recorded by a mobile camera leads to a fine, not what speed is permitted. Drivers must also take into account road conditions, visibility and other circumstances.
There are currently no plans to increase the number of patrols. In Loigo's view, road safety depends on effective enforcement, responsible behaviour and safe infrastructure working together.
Estonia's state roads currently have 68 speed camera cabins, six of which can measure speed in both directions.
