Traffic Management Systems Distributing Traffic Video and Use by Third-Parties

For many years, traffic management systems (TMSs) have shared still images of traffic cameras with the public to support sharing travel-condition information. More recently, this practice has evolved into providing live streaming videos. Meanwhile, individuals and private companies have begun recording these video streams along with the state’s 511 data feeds. Using various software and technologies, these third parties extract and resell information on notable events (e.g., dramatic crashes) to television media, social media, and others (e.g., wholesale purchasers of large quantities of recorded video). Given this evolving trend, it is increasingly important for agencies to consider the potential implications of third-party use of traffic video and traveler information data. These considerations should inform the development and review of regulations, policies, procedures, legal frameworks, and operational decisions around data sharing. Agencies must also anticipate possible downstream impacts, such as increased public records requests or the need to respond to legal inquiries when video is recorded and archived, considering the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Most TMSs do not record videos from their traffic cameras because of concerns about the administrative burden of responding to information requests, risk of a sensitive information leak, potential liability from information misuse, and complications sharing data with other government entities (e.g., law enforcement). Additionally, states have seen dramatic increases in the telecommunication and data storage costs involved with receiving, saving, sharing, and managing video from traffic cameras. This project aims to provide guidelines for agencies’ decision-making regarding whether and how to share, enhance, or discontinue sharing TMS traffic video with the public or third parties.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5841
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $250,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 03-155

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Deng, Zuxuan

• Start Date: 20250526
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Advanced traffic management systems; Data privacy; Data sharing; Legal factors; Policy; Traffic surveillance; Video
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Law; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01956428
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 03-155
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 27 2025 8:58PM