(October 16) Evaluating the Effectiveness of Automated Speed Camera Enforcement in School Zones

Florida continues to face significant pedestrian and bicyclist safety challenges, with excessive speeding contributing to crash severity. This FDOT-sponsored study evaluated the effectiveness of school zone speed safety cameras following Florida House Bill 657, which authorized automated enforcement beginning July 1, 2023. A before-and-after evaluation was conducted across 18 school zones and 33 roadway segments in Osceola County and the City of St. Cloud, using baseline, 30-day warning, and citation periods. Overall, the findings demonstrate that school zone speed safety cameras can substantially reduce speeding and improve compliance, supporting their continued and expanded use as a speed management strategy in Florida.

Yaye Keita, PhD
Research Faculty, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Traffic Operations, and Safety
Center for Urban Transportation Research

Dr. Yaye Keita is Research Faculty in the ITS, Traffic Operations, and Safety Program at the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida (USF). With more than a decade of experience in transportation engineering, planning, and policy, Dr. Keita specializes in advancing transportation safety, with a particular focus on vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and bicyclists. Her research encompasses a broad range of transportation safety and operations topics, including speed management, traffic signal systems, emerging transportation technologies, traffic operations, and strategies to mitigate congestion and improve mobility. Dr. Keita has contributed to numerous high-impact research projects funded by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), addressing critical transportation safety, operational, and policy challenges. She is the author and co-author of numerous technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, and academic papers, providing valuable research-based insights to advance transportation safety, mobility, and policy.