New Speed Sign In Towson Installed As Part Of Test: Councilman

TOWSON, MD — Sometimes people do not realize how fast they're going. That is no longer the case on Regester Avenue, where Baltimore County installed a digital speed sign Wednesday.

Councilman David Marks, whose district includes Towson, said that he advocated for the measure.

"This is part of a pilot program to determine if motorists will slow down once they learn of their speed," Marks said in a statement Wednesday, Sept. 18.

"If the sign works here, this technology could be implemented on other routes," he said.

A study sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2012 that was conducted by Morgan State University found that digital speed signs can be effective, with some caveats.

The sign "should be used as a temporary solution because its effectiveness reduces with time," researchers found. In addition, the signs are "effective only for short distance, as drivers increase their speed after passing" so "should be used on critical points" where crashes are more likely to occur or in spots such as school zones and work zones. "When a DSDS [dynamic speed display sign] is combined with another speed control device, such as a speed camera, its effectiveness increases."