Degree Name
Master of Public Administration
Graduate Program
Political Science
Advisor
Dr. Tobin Grant
Abstract
As the use of automated speed enforcement expands, public debate remains over questions of equity around camera placement. When technological advances are made often the social impact lags behind the economic or legislative impact. In this paper, I examine the social equity of Chicago, Illinois speed camera enforcement. In this paper, I review the policy of red-light speed cameras in Chicago and the enforcement. Using publicly available data on the location of speed cameras and data on traffic accidents, I examine the placement of speed cameras in Chicago. I find that serious accidents are more likely in areas with higher poverty and larger proportions of Black residents. However, cameras are more likely in areas with lower poverty and a larger proportion of White residents. These results suggest that there is a major inequity in the safety of transportation. I will conclude with an assessment of the current policy and the direction for further policy analysis.