Improving policing through technology: a comparison of drone cameras against terrestrial scanners in traffic accident data collection

Abstract

This article presents the results of a field test of drone technology which is being used in the collection of traffic accident data as conducted by the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences in September 2019. The experiment is part of a larger research project which is investigating the viability of the use of new forms of technology in traffic police work, especially drone cameras. Drones have shown that they have the potential to support and enhance traffic accident data collection, and can therefore greatly enhance the legal processing of accident scenes. Additionally, drones are able to capture data at a comparatively quicker rate than are manual meth ods. Further investigation is required, however, to determine whether data that is collected by drones is sufficiently accurate for the purposes of carrying out measurement checks at accident sites.