More cities within the United States are relying on red light camcorders. Red light camcorders anger a great deal of drivers. The devices are denounced as tax-collectors, not life-savers. But a recent research shows that red light surveillance cameras reduce traffic fatalities, also as increase revenues. The short term cash loans that cities had to sign up for in order to put up these surveillance cameras have proven to be worthwhile.
Less traffic deaths with red light surveillance cameras in place
Cities ought to be appreciative of the red light camcorders installed. This is because, as the Insurance institute for Highway Safety explains, they work as advertised. A research released by the research arm of the insurance industry found that traffic deaths dropped by 26 percent over five years at intersections equipped with red light cameras. Researchers compared traffic accident data from 14 large U.S. cities with red light surveillance cameras against 48 others without them from 2004 to 2008. Traffic deaths fell for cities in both categories, however the rate of deadly crashes dropped faster in cities with red light surveillance cameras. Rear-end collisions increased at intersections with red light cameras, however the more deadly T-bone collisions decreased.
The numbers for red light cameras
The traffic data that the federal government keeps was also used in the red light surveillance camera statistics. About 41 percent of crashes, 2.2 million, happened at intersections in 2009. About 81,112 people were really hurt and 7,358 were killed in those crashes. Due to red light running, 676 of those deaths were caused. Also, 113,000 of the injuries occurred with running red lights. About 64 percent of the people who died, including passengers, other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, were killed by the person running the red light. If all 99 cities within the study used red light camcorders, the researchers believed that several lives would have been saved. About 815 lives could have been saved.
Red light surveillance camera revenue backlash
When it comes to revenue, red light camcorders are great for cities. Millions of dollars in revenue are made off of them. From June 2009 to May 2010, 85,678 red light citations were caught in Washington, D.C., adding up to $7.2 million in revenue. In the United States about half the states permit red light camcorders. There were a few cities that installed them in 2000. These included 25 cities. Now, there are many more individuals that use red light surveillance cameras. In fact, 500 cities use them. Another opinion is given by the National Motorists Association. The group suggests intersections could be safer with simply longer yellow lights. Red light camcorders have been banned in many cities with voter initiatives. This was done calling the cameras invasion of privacy.
Articles cited
Washington Post
washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/01/AR2011020100021.html?wpisrc=nl_headline
Wall Street Journal
blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/02/01/red-light-cameras-get-a-boost/
Fair Warning
fairwarning.org/2011/02/red-light-cameras-save-hundreds-of-lives-on-roads-report-says/
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