Key Successes

Portland conduted speed studies to determine 

the effect of the traffic safety cameras on 

operating speed. They found: 

57% -decrease in the number of 

vehicles traveling over the posted speed 

limit. 

85% -decrease in the number of 

vehicles traveling more than 10 mph 

above the posted speed limit.

The City is navigating away from expressing 

speed in terms of 85th percentile and is instead 

recognizing the role speed reduction plays in a 

context sensitive approach.1

The 85th-percentile speeds are also lower 

compared to the before study.2

Traffic Safety Camera Program — 

Portland, Oregon

VISION ZERO SUCCESS STORY — BEHAVIORAL

JULY 2020 | FHWA-SA-20-032

Background 

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) 

implemented the traffic safety camera program in 

2016 to reduce speeding in neighborhoods and 

save lives. The traffic safety cameras were installed 

along corridors in the City’s High Crash Network. 

The High Crash Network included 30 streets; a 

composite of the top 20 high crash streets for 

driving, the top 20 for bicycling, and the top 20 for 

walking. The City identified four corridors for the 

traffic safety cameras: 

• SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway.

• SE Division Street.

• SE 122nd Avenue.

• NE Marine Drive.

By early 2018, PBOT installed eight (8) systems 

along the four (4) high crash corridors enforcing 

each direction of travel. In advance of each 

traffic safety camera, a speed reader board 

(SRB) (figure 1) displayed a driver’s speed. When 

drivers exceeded the posted speed limit, the traffic 

safety camera system (figure 2) engaged and 

photographed the driver and the front and rear of 

the vehicle.

Implementation

After traffic safety camera installation, the City 

instituted a 30-day warning period with warning 

letters mailed to those who violated the speed 

limit at those locations. After the 30-day warning 

period, the City issued citations for speed violators. 

When speed limits were reduced, the City 

implemented an interim 2-week warning period.

MPH

FHWA is pleased to present this vision zero success story. While behavioral initiatives don’t typically fall under 

FHWA’s purview, they play a critical role in reaching our goal of zero deaths, and our part of our shared 

responsibility to reduce fatal or serious injuries. For more information on safe driving behaviors, please visit our 

partner agency, the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety.

1 Federal Highway Administration. (2020). “Context Sensitive 

Solutions and Design.” https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/css/ 2 85th-percentile speed is the speed at which 85 percent of 

free-flowing traffic is traveling at or below. 
The citation was filed with the Multnomah County 

Circuit Court. The registered owner of the vehicle 

had 60 days to respond to the citation and was 

afforded the same right as any defendent with a 

traffic violation. 

Outcomes 

In 2018 the City of Portland conducted a 

telephone survey asking Portlanders about 

speeding along the subject corridors and the 

acceptance of the implementation of photo 

enforcement. The survey results showed positive 

feedback for photo enforcement of speeds on 

the high crash network. 

• Majority of individuals surveyed were familar 

with photo enforcement (93-percent aware 

of red-light running; 84-percent aware of the 

mobile speed van; 63-percent aware of fixed 

speed). 

• 75 percent of the individuals surveyed

supported using traffic safety cameras on 

streets with high crash rates.

▸ Over 50 percent who supported photo 

enforcement cited safety reasons or 

believed it reduced speeding or crashes. 

▸ Nearly 50 percent of the individuals who

surveyed believed photo enforcement is fair 

(over a third of whom responded because it 

is unbiased). 

In addition to the public acceptance surveys, 

the City conducted speed studies to determine 

the effect of the traffic safety cameras on 

operating speed. The City conducted an initial 

before speed study and compared these with 

subsequent speed studies. The City considered 

the volume of drivers speeding and those 

speeding at least 10 mph or greater. Depending 

on the location, there was a 40-percent to 

75-percent reduction in the number of drivers 

speeding. Drivers speeding in excess of 10 

mph, ranged from a 65-percent to 96-percent 

reduction.

Figure 1. Graphic. Speed feedback sign with warning for traffic safety camera in operation.

© 2020 Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT)
The City of Portland is required to deliver an 

outcome evaluation once every odd-numbered 

year to the Oregon Legislative Assembly on the 

effectiveness of the traffic safety cameras on 

traffic safety, degree of acceptance, and the 

administration process. 

Funding

Fines and fees collected from the traffic safety 

camera citations must be used to operate 

and maintain the traffic safety cameras on 

the high crash corridors. Statute mandates 

any additional revenue beyond systemic costs 

be dedicated to traffic safety. The City will 

reinvest in safety projects for all modes on High 

Crash Corridors such as installation of safety 

infrastructure, safety education and outreach, 

and evaluation. The operational costs of the 

traffic safety camera program include:

• Fixed fee – a monthly rate per traffic safety 

camera per direction enforced.

• Variable fee – fee per violation paid as fines 

through the court or as fees paid for the 

traffic safety.

• Law Enforcement work effort – review 

and approval of violations, and court 

appearances.

• Portland Bureau of Transportation staff time – 

engineer reviews, geographic information, 

speed studies, and system support.

• Permits – street opening permit.

• Additional expenses – survey, and post 

card mailings.

Figure 2. Graphic. Traffic safety camera installation.

© 2020 Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT)
POINT OF CONTACT

PROVIDANCE NAGY

PORTLAND BUREAU OF TRANSPORTATION

503.823.5821 | 

FIXEDSPEEDSAFETYCAMERA@PORTLANDOREGON.GOV© 2020 Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT)

Figure 3. Graphic. Speed feedback sign with warning for traffic safety camera in operation.