Evaluation of the Queensland Random Road Watch Program

Monash University Accident Research Centre – Report #149 - 1999

Authors: S.V. Newstead, M.H. Cameron & L.M.W. Leggett

Abstract:

This report describes the results of an evaluation of the crash effects of Random Road Watch, a traffic policing program currently in operation in Queensland. The difference between Random Road Watch (RRW) and conventional traffic policing is the resource management technique used for scheduling Police enforcement in a manner intended to maximise road safety benefits. Extensively developed from the original model used in the U.S.A., the technique involves dividing each Police jurisdiction into a number of sectors, and the week into a number of time blocks. The sector to be visited and the time at which it is to be visited are assigned randomly with the whole week being enforced. Enforcement involves conspicuous stationing of a marked police vehicle in the chosen sector for the allocated time block to undertake general road safety enforcement duties.

Analysis of the effects of the Queensland Random Road Watch program on crash frequency has shown the program to be effective overall in producing a significant 11 % reduction in crashes in aggregate. Further, the program was effective in producing a significant reduction in crashes of all severities in all police regions except Metropolitan South, where reductions consistent with the rest of Queensland were observed but were not generally statistically significant. In the areas outside metropolitan Brisbane, the estimated program effects were largest on fatal crashes, with an estimated reduction of 31%. Estimated aggregate program crash effects reduced with crash severity from 13% for serious injury crashes to 9% for property damage only crashes. Crash reductions attributable to the program were estimated to increase with time after program introduction with fatal, serious injury and property damage only crash reductions estimated to have risen to 33 percent, 25 percent and 22 percent, respectively, in the third year of the program. Whilst crash effects of the program were estimated to be uniform on fatal crashes across areas of Queensland outside of Brisbane, there was significant variation in program effects on non-fatal crashes between Police regions and urban and rural areas.

Translation of the estimated RRW program crash effects into crash cost savings showed the Queensland program to have saved an estimated $109m in the first 12 months after full implementation rising to an estimated saving of $163m in the third year after full implementation. These crash costs savings correspond to an estimated saving of 1266 crashes in the first year of program implementation rising to a saving of 2749 crashes in the third year after program implementation.

Executive Summary

Analysis of the effects of the Queensland Random Road Watch program on crash frequency has shown the program to be effective overall in producing a significant reduction in crashes in aggregate. Further, the program was effective in producing a significant reduction in crashes of all seventies in all police regions except Metropolitan South, where reductions were observed but were not generally statistically significant. Crash savings were estimated to be highest for fatal crashes and diminishing with crash severity.

In the areas outside metropolitan Brisbane, the estimated program effects were largest on fatal crashes, with an estimated reduction of 31%. Estimated aggregate program crash effects reduced with crash severity from 13% for serious injury crashes to 9% for property damage only crashes. The evaluation estimated total crash savings of 11 % due to the RRW program. Crash reductions attributable to the program were estimated to increase with time after program introduction with fatal, serious injury and property damage only crash reductions estimated to have risen to 33 percent, 25 percent and 22 percent, respectively, in the third year of the program. Whilst crash effects of the program were estimated to be uniform on fatal crashes across areas of Queensland outside of Brisbane, there was significant variation in program effects on non-fatal crashes between Police regions and urban and rural areas.

Crash effects of the RRW program in metropolitan Brisbane appeared to be generally consistent with those estimated for the rest of Queensland. However, results of the analysis were insufficient to draw firm conclusions about the magnitude of the program effects in this area, except for property damage crashes and all crashes combined in urban areas where significant crash reductions were found.

Sponsoring Organisation: Queensland Department of Transport, Land Transport and Safety Division