Hidden Roadside Dangers: Cameras Pose Crash Risk

Safety advocates are sounding the alarm regarding the physical placement of automated license plate readers (ALPRs), suggesting some may pose roadside hazards. These cameras, often owned by companies like Flock Safety, are sometimes installed on metal poles without essential breakaway features. Such features are critical for reducing the impact of collisions, as they allow the pole to snap upon impact, minimizing vehicle damage and injury.

Official guidelines, such as those from the Ohio Department of Transportation, recommend placement at least eight feet from travel lanes on uncurbed roads. However, reports indicate these ALPR structures are often placed much closer to roadways. This non-compliance, coupled with the poles' dark, inconspicuous color and lack of reflective markers, can make them difficult for drivers to see, particularly at night.

Advocates like Steve Eimers, known as the "Guardrail Guy," have been documenting these issues nationwide. He stresses that while the cameras themselves are scrutinized, the safety of their physical installation has been overlooked. Eimers highlights that fixed roadside structures, including sign poles, can become deadly hazards if not properly designed with breakaway or yielding mechanisms, as required by federal standards for clear zones.

Flock Safety and police departments maintain that their cameras are vital for crime reduction and that they adhere to all relevant safety requirements. However, they acknowledge that installation specifications can vary based on roadway conditions and local regulations. The company has indicated plans to review its camera pole installations across its network.