Traffic Safety Awareness Program

Introduction

Speeding on Orlando's streets is a serious concern for all of us. The City's Traffic Studies Section frequently receives requests from individuals for deterrents such as lowering the posted speed limit. Unfortunately, engineering studies have consistently demonstrated that there are no significant changes in vehicular speeds following the posting of revised speed limits. Below are some frequently asked questions regarding speed control.

What can be done to control speeders? 

Police enforcement plays an extremely important role in effecting vehicular speeds. Studies show that concentrated police enforcement efforts directed at speed and other traffic law violations do have positive benefits, however, they tend to be short term unless enforcement returns periodically.

Unfortunately, police enforcement efforts address only a small percentage of speeders with each contact. Proper dissemination of information (education) can impact a larger number of drivers and result in behavioral changes. Driver education, coupled with police enforcement, has the greatest impact and tends to be longer lasting.

How do you help educate drivers?

In 1994 Orlando was the recipient of a Florida Department of Transportation Safety Grant which allowed us to start a program using one of the most effective tools available today, the "radar driven digital display board". This device has proven to be an excellent method to augment existing police enforcement methods.

The board, which is mounted on a portable trailer, is equipped with a special solar powered, radar driven, numerical display that shows each approaching driver his or her speed. Above this display is affixed a large speed limit sign showing the legal posted speed for that particular roadway. By showing the driver his or her actual driving speed in comparison with the posted speed limit, voluntary compliance with the law is encouraged.