WHEREAS, HB 1187, introduced by Representative John Taylor, amends Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by providing for a pilot program for an automated speed enforcement system along U.S. 1 (Roosevelt Boulevard) to assist with the City of Philadelphia’s efforts to make streets safer; and
WHEREAS, HB 1187 would place photo speed enforcement cameras in defined areas across U.S. Route 1 in Philadelphia from the Bucks County Line to I-76. The Philadelphia Parking Authority (“PPA”) would be responsible to manage the cameras and the enforcement program. Prior to implementation, PennDOT would need to approve the cameras and place appropriate signs along U.S. 1 to alert drivers to the use of photo speed enforcement devices; and
WHEREAS, Between 2011 and 2016, PennDOT estimated that there were 67,874 traffic crashes in Philadelphia county of which 1,700 resulted in major injuries and 574 were fatal; and
WHEREAS, PennDOT also estimated that between 2011 and 2016, there were 179 pedestrians and 17 cyclists killed due to traffic crashes in the City of Philadelphia, along with 360 pedestrians and 59 cyclists that were severely injured due to traffic crashes during the same timespan; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Vision Zero Alliance reports that Philadelphia’s rate of 6.0 traffic deaths per 100,000 people is higher than that of Boston, Los Angeles, and New York. Vision Zero has also identified Roosevelt Boulevard as part of a high injury network that includes 12% of Philadelphia’s streets, but 50% of Philadelphia’s traffic deaths; and
WHEREAS, In a study conducted by
the International Cochrane Collaboration, photo radar devices were found to reduce all speed-related crashes by as much as 25% and to reduce crashes involving fatalities by as much as 44%
; and
WHEREAS, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that speed cameras can reduce crashes substantially and the total estimated safety benefits of enforcing speed cameras can range from $16.5 million to $17.1 million per year; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia, Does hereby urge the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to enact HB 1187 that would amend Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for a pilot program for an automated speed enforcement system along U.S. 1 (Roosevelt Boulevard).
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