Average speed measurement systems on Polish expressways

Average speed measurement (OPP) systems are increasingly common on major expressways across Poland. On the S2 expressway in Warsaw, these systems show varying results in traffic management. The measurement system in the Ursynów tunnel, where the limit is 80 km/h, has been noted for improving traffic flow and contributing to a lack of serious accidents according to GDDKiA statistics.

However, the section of the S2 east of the tunnel, between the Wilanów and Lubelska junctions, presents different challenges. With a 100 km/h limit, drivers exhibit inconsistent behavior: some follow the rules, some drive too slowly due to confusion over previous speed limits, and others attempt to evade detection by exiting the highway at junctions where cameras are not present.

Technically, OPP systems calculate speed by recording the time a vehicle passes two separate points. The software divides the distance by the travel time to determine the average speed. Factors such as traffic jams or stops between cameras can influence this average, though the system does not record instantaneous speed at specific points along the segment.