Automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras, including those manufactured by Flock Safety, are reportedly being installed in the US in locations that may not meet highway safety standards, according to safety advocates. These installations could pose potential roadside hazards for drivers.
One example cited is a black Flock Safety camera on a narrow rural road in Greene County, Ohio, which is difficult to see. The metal pole supporting it reportedly lacks a breakaway plate, a safety feature designed to reduce impact in a collision. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) states that on uncurbed facilities, license plate readers should be at least eight feet from the nearest edge of a travel lane, but the camera in question is about two feet from the asphalt road.
Steve Eimers, a safety advocate known as the Guardrail Guy, has been documenting these potential physical dangers. He highlights that while other roadside safety hardware undergoes extensive crash testing and inspection, ALPR camera structures are often not inspected by municipal authorities for safety compliance. Eimers also notes that the black color and lack of reflective surfaces can make them difficult for drivers to see at night.
Flock Safety, which has an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 cameras across over 6,000 US communities, maintains that it follows all state and local requirements for hardware placement. A company spokesperson stated that Flock plans to review camera pole installations across its network.