The Analysis of the Effectiveness of Informing People About Traffic Offences Mechanized Records on The Reduction of Stationary Penalties

Transcription

1 The Analysis of the Effectiveness of Informing People About Traffic Offences Mechanized Records on The Reduction of Stationary Penalties Vahhab Mizani Islamic Azad University of Tehran, The Deputy Transportation and Traffic of Qazvin Municipal Parisa Jabbari and Zohre Karimiyan International University of Imam Khomeini, Technical Expert of Municipal Traffic Control Center in Qazvin Abstract s always have had a significant rule in decrement of passages traffic, increase of pedestrian safety and traffic regulation, but the increasing number of cars, reduced attention to traffic signs and lack of management in passages especially in intersections and squares has leaded to a significant increase in driving offences. Accordingly, the necessity of deploying electronic devices in the cities through control centers is obvious. Unawareness of people about the structure of these centers, the methods of traffic control and law enforcement by police agents who are based in these control centers have caused decreasing in returns. Therefore, in order to raise the people s awareness some measures should be taken. In this way, The Traffic Control Center of Qazvin City Hall has designed and implemented a board to raise people s awareness about offence registration with cameras and in this article the effect of informing people about mechanized record of traffic violations has been evaluated. Accordingly some of disordered intersections with a lot of traffic violations commitment have been recognized and chosen to be watched for two weeks. In this period of time all of the offences have been recorded by the traffic polices. This procedure continues for 1 month after board installation. According to the precise comparison between the statistics yielded before and after the sign installation, the results show that after sign installation there has been a 23 percent decrease in traffic offences. have led to significant increase in traffic violations, especially in intersections. On the other hand, daily presence of Traffic Police agents at all intersections is impossible and measures must be taken in order to improve traffic culture. Among the duties of traffic control centers is mechanized record of violations by police agents located in centers and people unawareness of how these centers act about recording violations, has reduced output and has little effect on number of violations. In fact, people are not aware that their violations can be recorded without physical presence of police agents. Therefore, we must make people aware that they must establish culture of non violation traffic in themselves and know that police monitor their traffic behavior from long-distance. In this regard, Municipal Traffic Control Center of Qazvin has implemented a board for effective information on reduced violations and has investigated effects of information boards on reduced or increased violations. II. The CCTV (surveillance) camera was installed for the first time in Germany in 1942 in order to observe V-2 Rocket Launch and a German named Walter Bruch was responsible for design, install and launch of this system. In USA, first commercial CCTV camera was available in 1949 and was called vericon. In 1968, New York was the place where CCTV system was installed with the aim of fight with crimes. Firstly, installing CCTV system, rates of crimes had no changes so that installing these cameras was expanded throughout New York in 1980s. This method is cheaper way compared to expanding police stations. Some commercial centers and shops used this system and public places used these cameras mid 1990s such as administrations, schools and parks. Using CCTV systems in banks and stores became conventional in order to recognize and record crimes of thieves and protect homes. As a result, installing these cameras led to valuable and important results. [2] Now, using these Index Terms intersections, stationary penalties, sign installation I. INTRODUCTION From the beginning of car entry in 1902 to Iran and ratifying the first traffic regulations in 2002, recording violations and traffic control has always been done by the physical presence of police agents and increasing number of cars on the one hand and advancement of technology on the other hand have led to raise in urban traffic control centers. [1] Mismatch between the capacity of urban traffic streets and decreased attention to traffic signals Manuscript received February 1, 2015; revised April 21, doi: /jtle HISTORY OF USING CCTV SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS 120

2 systems have expanded in many countries and highway networks and functions of these cameras include awareness of crowded centers, traffic knot and awareness of accidents (It must be mentioned that surveillance cameras are different from speed record cameras). III. HISTORY OF USING CCTV BOARDS In the beginning of installing CCTV cameras, people did not have good feelings and thought that they are being controlled and all they actions and behaviors will be recorded. But, they gradually became aware of benefits of using these cameras including reduced crimes and preventing events and understood that this system is necessary and they believe that if a place uses a camera, they must inform people so that they know that place is equipped with CCTV cameras. This request was applied in 2000 and boards were designed and installed until 2002 that were indicative of CCTV cameras. Studies showed that CCTV boards have been effective on reduced crimes and effects of surveillance cameras will be more like CCTV cameras and people will be relaxed if they become aware of CCTV board presence. These studies show that text and design of CCTV boards must be proportional to their function so that be effective and give better results. [3] According to studies in different countries, these boards are widely used in administrations, schools, parks, parking, banks, etc. But, according to studies, there are no CCTV boards in intersections in order to make aware people of CCTV cameras and reduced traffic violations. Qazvin is the first city in Iran that has designed this board and has extracted valuable results of boards effectiveness. IV. FUNCTIONS AND CLASSIFICATIONS AND OF TRAFFIC SIGNS Installed traffic signs are used for traffic control. Traffic boards include messages in acronyms, and symbols for controlling places or drivers. In most cases, traffic signs are installed vertically and present in different groups including: Abbreviations, regulatory, warning, steering, etc. [4] that each sign has special shape; below, these signs are explained. A. Abbreviations (Warning) These signs warn about risks that driver will face on his way. Like Turn sign. These signs are like equilateral triangles that its top is upward. Complementary rectangular planes are used below warning sign in order to complete information. B. Regulatory Signs (Ruling and Prohibition Signs) Regulatory signs include a set of signs that are related to prohibition and limitation. Regulatory signs may limit or prohibit. Exceptions include triangle sign of stop and priority sign that is equilateral triangle and its top is upward. Regulatory signs may have complementary planes below that help to message. [5] C. Warning Signs (Facilities of Path) Warning signs are used in order to inform drivers on different issues such as facilities or other buildings on road sides. [5] D. Guide Signs Guide boards provide users necessary information in order to find their way to destination. [5] E. Other Signs Other signs are those that are not in higher classifications but have many functions (including route view and Chevron boards). [5] According to studies, designed boards aim to mechanize recording of crimes and are warning complementary boards, that below will be described. V. DESIGN AND FUNCTION OF ROAD SIGNS The important characteristic of boards is its readability that is provided by size of letter. The difference between colors, background and type of letters are important, too. Value of a board in inducing aim is depended on color and size. A great board will have sufficient aim value in each color, but selecting installation place for small boards may face problems (without removing board aim value). For content and design simplicity, selecting symbolic messages will be efficient way, wherever necessary, messages must be summarized for understanding fast. Size is the important factor in board costs.[5] VI. DESIGNING VIOLATION REGISTTERING BOARD WITH CCTV IN QAZVIN Designed board dimensions are 50*33cm that regulation considerations are considered in their design. Board is rectangular because it is for warning. Yellow, black and white colors are considered for board. It can be mentioned that reflective yellow color reflects light better and is effective on driver mind psychologically. According to studies in other countries, yellow color is considered for this board. Also, black and white colors with yellow background are recognizable. Some of warning boards like bus stations, public telephone and etc are in yellow in Iran and this color can be used in warning boards. In the case of board text, it must be mentioned that CCTV is written on left side of board that is abbreviation of Closed Circuit Television and means closed circuit camera. Camera shape is considered on board for effectiveness, in fact color and shapes are first effective factors on minds. [6] Board installation places in several critical intersections are selected based on traffic and violation and is subject to camera. This board is 15meter from intersection and below strictly prohibited violation boards so that be indicative of violation registration. Traffic rules compliance around these boards effect greatly on roads and traffic reduction. Also, regulation considerations are based on driver point of view on boards. 121

3 C. Naderi Naderi is located in city center and is meeting point of Naderi and Buali streets and traffics occur in this intersection. The important function of this intersection is therapeutic use because Buali hospital is located near this intersection that has high traffic daily. Commercial, cultural, educational and residential functions are found in this intersection. Figure 1. CCTV board designed in Qazvin. D. Adl Square Adl Square is meeting point of Ferdosi and Adl streets and there are traffics daily in this intersection. This Square has dominant importance and commercial functions have led to several violations especially stop around Square, however public parking is accessible around Square. Other functions of Square are religious, administrative, educational and residential. Figure 2. CCTV board in other countries VII. PROCESS In survey methodologies by agents in traffic control center of Qazvin municipality, violations include park and stop at places with strictly forbidden stop in intersections and squares, stop on pedestrian line in red traffic lights, Double Park and some other violations. s of Adl- Khayyam, Valiasr, Naderi and Adl Square are selected that have more traffic and violation compared to other intersections and their violations were recorded two weeks before installing boards from to Then in two intersections of Naderi and Adl Square boards were installed from and violations were recorded from to Violation recording time was from 7:30 to 17:00. Boards position was below strictly forbidden stop and they were installed around Naderi intersection (sought west and north east) and around Adl Square (sought west, sought east and north east). Number of boards was selected based on high number of violations in that points and effect of violations on traffic increase. Received statistics from traffic police were recorded in central traffic control and finally were analyzed. It must be mentioned that statistics of violations in Fridays and some special days (formal holidays) are removed. Position of intersections and results of statistics are as below: Figure 3. The position of selected intersections in Qazvin Above map presents volume to capacity ratio of pedestrian network of Qazvin in traffic peak. As it is seen, selected intersections are in crowded centers of city. Naderi intersection and Adl Squares are shown in figures that are equipped with camera or violation registering board. A. Valiasr Valiasr intersection is the meeting point of Ayatollah Khameneyi and Khorramshahr Bulvards and is considered as city entry and 58000traffics occur in this intersection. According to statistics, it is considered as crowded intersection of Qazvin and there are commercial and administration functions around this intersection. TABLE I: DETAILED STATISTICS OF TOTAL RESIDENTS VIOLATIONS (DURING THE STUDY) B. Adl- Khayyam Adl- Khayyam intersection is the meeting point of Khayyam and Adl streets and traffics occur in this intersection. This intersection is considered as important centers of shopping and its commercial, administration, cultural and residential functions have converted this intersection as attractive point that has high daily violation statistics Stop on pedestrian line 2399 No stop 6 Stop leads to crossing barrier 179 Double stop 125 Stop at the bus stop 2 Stop on sidewalk 4244 Total

4 VIII. VIOLATION STATISTICS ANALYSIS B. Studying Reduced Statistics of Violations in Specified Intervals and Reduced Violations of s. A. The Effect of Information on Violation Statistic Reduction Violation statistics of total intersections and violation statistics of each intersection and percent of their reduction before and after installing board are shown through drawing graphs. Figure 6. Graph of total violations every 5 days As can be seen from above graph, violations reduce. Then, we study on violation statistics of intersections and calculate reduced percent of violations of each intersection: TABLE III: MEAN TOTAL VIOLATIONS BEFORE AND AFTER INSTALLING BOARD IN VALIASAR INTERSECTION Figure 4. Bar graph of total amount of daily violations Mean total violations before installing board in Valiasar Mean total violations after installing board in Valiasar According to Table III, we view 20.5% reduced violations in statistics of Vali Asr intersection. TABLE IV: MEAN TOTAL VIOLATIONS BEFORE AND AFTER INSTALLING BOARD IN ADL- KHAYYAM INTERSECTION Mean total violations before installing board in AdlKhayyam 20 Mean total violations after installing board in AdlKhayyam 15.5 According to Table IV, we view 7.11% increased violations in statistics of Adl- Khayyam intersection. Figure 5. Linear regression curve and decreasing slope of total violation in days TABLE V: MEAN TOTAL VIOLATIONS BEFORE AND AFTER INSTALLING BOARD IN NADERI INTERSECTION In Fig. 5, vertical axis shows total daily violations and horizontal axis shows number of day. Totally, violation statistics of 36 days among 42 days are recorded (holidays are removed), for example, Number 1 in horizontal axis shows and number 36 shows Fig. 3 and 4 show that violation statistics over time has had reducing slope. According to Table V, we view 22.5% reduced violations in statistics of Naderi intersection. TABLE II: MEAN TOTAL VIOLATIONS BEFORE AND AFTER INSTALLING BOARD TABLE VI: MEAN TOTAL VIOLATIONS BEFORE AND AFTER INSTALLING BOARD IN ADL SQUARE Mean total violations before installing board 143 Mean total violations after installing board 110 Mean total violations before installing board in Naderi Mean total violations after installing board in Naderi According to table, we view 23% reduced violations in total statistics. Then, we study on statistics of violations every 5 days Mean total violations before installing board in Adl Square 39 Mean total violations after installing board in Adl Square 31 According to Table VI, we view 36.17% reduced violations in statistics of Adl Square. 123

5 [2] We can conclude that Naderi and Adl Square have had violation registering board and we observe more reduced violations compared to other 2 intersections. IX. [3] CONCLUSION [4] A. Results of this study offers positive effects of using violation registering board with camera (CCTV) on changing driving models and reduced number of traffic violations especially in intersections equipped with CCTV board. B. Violation registering board with cameras (CCTV) has effected on traffic culture; also, people become aware of surveillance cameras in intersections and consider that police watch their traffic behaviors and actions. C. Despite the presence of boards in 2 intersections, they have effected on other intersections because we witness reduced slope of violations. D. As the multiplicity of boards in city will reduce their effectiveness, then Qazvin Transportation Deputy decides to install these boards in crowded centers of city due to one month desired results; applying law will result in effective results. [5] [6] Vahab Mizani was born in Qazvin, Iran in He received Master of Science in Transportation Engineering in Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran, He received his B.S. in Civil-Engineering, Islamic Azad University of Kerman, Iran, And High School Diploma in Mathematics and Physics, Babaei High School, Qazvin, Iran, He is studying Urban Planning-Major in transportation at University of Lusofona, Lisbon, Portugal. He is The Deputy Transportation and Traffic of Qazvin Municipal. Parisa Jabbari was born in Qazvin, Iran in She received her B.S. in Civil-Engineering, Emam Khomeini International University, Iran, And High School Diploma in Mathematics and Physics, Farzanegan High School, Qazvin, Iran, She is studying Master of Science in Transportation Engineering at Emam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran. She is the Technical Expert of Municipal Traffic Control Center in Qazvin. REFERENCES [1] Zohreh Karimiyan was born in Ilam, Iran in She received Master of Science in urban and regional and design planning in Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran, She received her B.S. in computer-engineering, Islamic Azad University of Qazvin, Iran, And High School Diploma in Mathematics and Physics, Efat High School, Ivan, Iran, She is studying Urban Planning-Major in transportation at University of Lusofona, Lisbon, Portugal. M. Y. Hamedani, F. Zolfaghari, and M. Rashvand, Accuracy and effectiveness infraction radar speed in Qazvin, in Proc. Thirteenth International Conference on Transportation and Traffic Engineering, V. Sivarajasingam, J. P. Shepherd, and K. Matthews, Effect of urban closed circuit television on assault injury and violence detection, Journal of Accident & Emergency Medicine, vol. 16, no. 4, pp , M. Cole, Signage and surveillance: Interrogating the textual context of CCTV in the UK, Surveillance & Society, vol. 2, no. 3, 2004, A. rahimi and M. Kazemi, Evaluation of effectiveness factors influencing the perception of drivers to traffic signs, in Proc. Third International Conference on Road Traffic Accidents, Safety Regulations Set by Iran (Code 267). CTC & Associates LLC, Effectiveness of traffic signs on local roads, Transportation Research Synthesis, January,