Using Big Data for Improving Speed Enforcement and Road Safety Engineering Measures: An Application in Bogota, Colombia

Abstract

Enforcing speed limits is an effective measure to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries as part of a comprehensive road safety strategy. In this paper, we explore the integration of geocoded traffic crash data and traffic speed sensors based on Wi-Fi/Bluetooth technology, to identify critical arterial road segments in Bogotá, Colombia. Big-data amalgamation and analysis allow a more effective focus in places with a high concentration of traffic crash victims and a high percentage of speeding traffic. This type of analysis helps inform the assignment of scarce traffic police resources to maximize impact. It also guides the effective location of speed cameras and traffic calming measures. Strict speed enforcement on the 17 arterial road segments identified in Bogotá may result in a 4% decline in the total number of fatalities per year citywide. As the current target for Bogota is a reduction of fatalities by 3.5% per year, these measures will meet and surpass this goal. Detailed speed data also show the hours and days of the week where speeding represents a higher risk, helping target enforcement.The proposed methodology can be replicated in other places and has the potential to be improved as additional data become available.