An independent study by researchers at the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) found that school zone speed safety programmes operated by Verra Mobility reduced speeding violations by 97% at participating Florida school zones, the Mesa, Arizona-based company announced.
The research, funded by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), evaluated Verra Mobility-operated programmes in the City of St. Cloud and Osceola County, Florida. Researchers analysed vehicle speeds before camera activation, during Florida’s required 30-day warning period, and throughout the first 30 days of citation enforcement.
Across 18 school zone speed cameras, total speeding violations dropped from 3.47% of passing vehicles to 0.09%, a 97% reduction. Warnings alone, issued before any citations, reduced violations by 93%. Severe speeding, defined as 16 mph or more over the posted limit, declined from 74% of speeding incidents to 45%.
“Independent research continues to validate what communities across the country are experiencing firsthand,” said Stacey Moser, chief customer officer at Verra Mobility. “A 97% reduction in speeding violations is an extraordinary outcome.”
At BridgePrep Academy in Osceola County, one camera location recorded an 80% high-speeding rate before the programme began. That rate reached zero during both the warning and citation enforcement periods, according to the study.
Florida authorised school zone speed detection systems under House Bill 657 in 2023. Verra Mobility says it now supports automated safety programmes in more than 300 communities.
Alt text: School zone speed safety camera equipment of the type used in Verra Mobility’s Florida enforcement programmes (image not reviewed directly – confirm accuracy before publishing) Caption: A Verra Mobility school zone speed safety camera system, similar to those used in the Florida programmes referenced in the study (image not verified directly – confirm before publishing)
