Estonia to Start Testing New Average Speed Measurement System
Summer in Estonia will see the commencement of testing for an average speed measurement system, aimed at determining whether it should be implemented in the future for monitoring drivers' speeds. This was reported by ERR.
Minister of Climate Kristen Michal and the government's Traffic Commission have instructed the Department of Transport to initiate measurements of average speed on segments between cameras on Estonia's main highways. According to Michal, this is a methodological study, and no fines will be imposed for violations at this stage.
The potential test segments include the Tallinn-Tartu, Tallinn-Narva, Tallinn-Pärnu, and Eesmäe-Haapsalu highways. The research aims to determine the technical feasibility of measuring the average speed of vehicles using existing stationary speed cameras.
The Department of Transport will assess how the measurement of average speed works, whether the method is suitable, which vehicles and at what times exceed the speed limit more frequently, and other related factors.
According to Kristen Michal, no personal data will be collected, and fines will not be issued during the testing period.
"This study will be conducted during this summer, and then we will discuss it in the government's Traffic Commission in the autumn. We will evaluate the system's impact and its overall applicability. Afterward, we will decide whether to implement it in practice," clarified Kristen Michal.
During the testing phase, it will also be determined whether the introduction of such a system would require legislative changes.
Michal noted that current programs for psychological re-education only target 5% of the most serious offenders. In the autumn, the Traffic Commission plans to discuss how to increase this percentage.
"The goal, as before, is to reduce the number of casualties and fatalities on the roads. We need to tackle the most challenging cases more energetically," said the minister.
Automatic average speed control cameras are used in many countries. The Department of Transport recommends implementing such a system in Estonia as well. This means that in the future, the actual speed of vehicles will be calculated by two cameras installed at the beginning and end of a segment. Until now, cameras in Estonia have simply recorded vehicle speeds at specific locations.