Acton should add traffic cameras to enhance local enforcement efforts

Trace Salzbrenner’s article “Traffic enforcement fluctuates as police workload ratchets up” in the September 11 Acton Bridge is excellent reporting. His analysis of the data calls out a public safety issue that should concern all Acton residents and underscores the need for action to support public safety on our roads.

Recent national public attention focusing on abuses of Flock traffic camera data by “bad apples” in some local police departments nationwide points to where we need better data management quality assurance in local police departments. It should not, however, turn us away from looking to automated traffic camera enforcement to determine how it could be a valuable part of Acton’s proactive traffic enforcement.

There are significant success stories regarding how automated traffic camera enforcement has contributed to reducing traffic accidents and injuries. France, the UK, the Netherlands, and Sweden, among other countries, have figured out how to effectively and safely deploy this technology to help support public safety. I personally experienced how it works. Four weeks after I returned from a vacation driving through Normandy, France, I received a very official letter from the French Republic with a ticket for going 10 kph over the speed limit, and I had to fork over the amount of the fine immediately. The data was very clear. I complied.

This is not an initiative we should simply expect our Acton Police Department alone to adopt. The best-case practices on automated traffic camera enforcement tell us that local leadership needs to orchestrate clear policy alignment, public support, targeted deployment, and use of the best technology. It is time for the Acton Select Board to make this a high public safety priority.

Russell Sanna

Nashoba Road