Police Speed Surveys & Signage Protocols
Protocols for dealing with the ever-increasing number of concerns being raised about speeding vehicles, and requests for traffic control devices, have been adopted by the Buffalo City Council, following the recommendation of the Buffalo Chief of Police and the City Engineer.
These protocols were developed to ensure that complaints are properly routed, that they are dealt with in a consistent manner, and that they are dealt with in a manner that is consistent with the wishes of the City Council. These protocols have also been developed to allow for a more orderly resolution to these complaints and an overall reduction in staff time by eliminating repetition and ineffective use of resources. These protocols have been laid out in a Flow-Chart format to help ensure that the proper process is followed in each case.
At the heart of the protocols relative to speed concerns is the “Statistical Level of Compliance”, or SLC. The Buffalo City Council has established an SLC of 85% for all roadways within the City of Buffalo. The SLC is determined by examining the speed limit for that area, and then taking into account a margin of error. If 85% of the vehicles that travel within a particular area are determined to be traveling at a speed that is contained within the SLC, no additional specific traffic intervention techniques are warranted. If less than 85% of the vehicles are in compliance, additional action will be taken in the form of education, enforcement, and/or engineering.
How is this determined? The police department will use various methods to conduct traffic surveys in areas of concern. Surveys will be conducted on multiple occasions, and during the peak complaint times, to try to make an accurate assessment of the problem in any given area. Once the surveys are completed, the information will be posted here in the Survey-Results section.
What about Signs & Signals? There are strict standards and guidelines that govern when signs and/or signals can be installed or changed. If you would like to have an area considered for signage or a change in existing signs, you can click on the Request a Sign Change here or below, and you can send us your request. Once a request has been made for a sign or a sign change, the area in question will be studied to determine what changes, if any, are warranted.
As a result of citizen comments, traffic surveys, and Police Officer observations, specific traffic areas have been identified within the City of Buffalo, which consistently fail to meet minimum standards for motorist’s compliance with traffic regulations. The Buffalo Police Department recently developed a program to bring compliance ratios up to suitable levels. This program will establish Intense Traffic Enforcement Zones (ITEZ), which will be easily distinguishable by a neon green sign, which notes: “Intense Traffic Enforcement Zone.” While citizens are always encouraged to obey the traffic laws, motorists operating in these zones should be particularly mindful of strict adherence to all regulatory signs, including speed signs, and their overall driving behavior. View below to learn more about ITEZ.
Buffalo Police Department Traffic Safety Initiative
As a result of citizen comments, traffic surveys, and Police Officer observations, specific traffic areas have been identified within the City of Buffalo, which consistently fail to meet minimum standards for motorist’s compliance with traffic regulations. The Buffalo Police Department developed a program to bring compliance ratios up to suitable levels. This program will establish Intense Traffic Enforcement Zones (ITEZ), which will include targeted and increased traffic enforcement in defined areas, as well as a public education campaign. Specific staff time is directly allocated for increased traffic enforcement in these areas. Officers are encouraged to issue citations to offenders committing violations in these zones, even if the violations are relatively “minor” in nature.
These zones are easily distinguishable by a neon green sign, which notes: “Intense Traffic Enforcement Zone.” While citizens are always encouraged to obey the traffic laws, motorists operating in these zones should be particularly mindful of strict adherence to all regulatory signs, including speed signs, and their overall driving behavior.
The police department uses various methods to define these areas of concern. Through the processes outlined in our Speeding & Signage Protocols policy, specific efforts are made to determine the level of compliance in a targeted area, and corrective actions are taken as appropriate. The ITEZ program is an extension of the Speeding & Signage protocols, which have been in place for the past several years.
For additional understanding of the Speeding & Signage Protocols, click HERE.
Please do your part to make our roadways safe. Be sure to obey all traffic laws and watch for an ITEZ near you. Being aware of these zones will not only help you be a better driver – it may just save you from a hefty fine!
Click on the Address Listed to view the survey results in a graph format.
Location of Survey | Speed Limit | Date of Survey | # of Vehicles Surveyed | % of Compliance (SLC) |
Buffalo Hills Street | 30 | March 2009 | 144 | |
Cardinal Way & Falcon Trail | 30 | May 2001 | 47 | 100% |
Division Street – 400 Block | 30 | May 2001 | 162 | 96% |
Division Street – 600 Block | 30 | December 2000 | 392 | 98% |
Kensington Way – 1000/1200 Block | 30 | June 2006 | 221 | 100% |
Kensington Way – 1000/1200 Block | 30 | March 2004 | 194 | 100% |
Lakeview Dr. at Natalie Dr. | 30 | June 2006 | 74 | 98.7% |
Montrose Blvd – 700 Block | 30 | March 2009 | 1502 | 80.5% |
Pulaski Road – 1300 Block | 30 | September 2004 | 378 | 79.6% |
Pulaski Road – 1400/1500 Block | 30 | August 2002 | 323 | 75.30% |
Pulaski Road – 1400 Block | 30 | May 2007 | 1315 | 81% |
Pulaski Road – 1500 Block | 30 | December 2000 | 1028 | 84% |
Whitetail Run Greenbriar/Copper Ck. | 30 | June 2004 | 25 | 94% |
2nd Avenue S. – 800 Block | 30 | May 2001 | 202 | 79% |
3rd Avenue NE – 1400 Block | 30 | July 2001 | 1184 | 96% |
3rd Avenue NE | 30 | May 2008 | 1493 | 99% |
1st Street N.E. at 4th Avenue | 30 | December 2000 | 162 | 95% |
2nd Street S. – 400 Block | 30 | December 2000 | 654 | 41.8% |
16th Street and Dale Avenue | 30 | May 2004 | 121 | 95.5% |
17th Street S. | 30 | June 2006 | 132 | 90.5% |
17th Street S. | 30 | May 2006 | 74 | 92.50% |
10th Street S. | 30 | September 2006 | 434 | 94.40% |
10th Street S. | 30 | April 2008 | 696 | 94.40% |