Speeding across Texas: identifying high-risk locations using probe data

Area of Science:

• Traffic Safety Engineering
• Transportation Planning
• Behavioral Analysis

Background:

• Speeding is a significant factor in U.S. motor vehicle fatalities, contributing to one-third of all deaths.
• Understanding driver behavior related to posted speed limits (PSLs) is critical for enhancing road safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze vehicle speed data against PSLs across the Texas network.
• To identify factors influencing speeding behaviors and review non-infrastructure speed management strategies.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 39.1 million vehicle speeds against 1.04 million roadway points in Texas.
• Utilized weighted least squares and spatially weighted logistic regression models.
• Controlled for variables including congestion, land use, time of day, and day of week.

Main Results:

• Speeding is most prevalent during late-night hours (3-5 a.m.) and on weekends.
• Roads with lower PSLs (30-40 mph) showed higher non-compliance, with 43% exceeding the limit.
• Posted speed limits and rural settings predicted higher average speeds; access control and weekends strongly correlated with increased speeding.

Conclusions:

• Late-night and weekend periods, especially on lower-speed roads, are critical times for speeding interventions.
• Targeted enforcement and community-based strategies are recommended for different road types and speeding patterns.
• Insights can guide transportation agencies in developing effective speed management policies and enforcement locations.