red light cameras actually increase the number and severity of crashes.

SuaveX5 · #1 03-13-2008, 08:17 AM

Miami (FL) - A University Of South Florida College Of Public Health study says red light cameras actually increase the number and severity of crashes. The study examined red light camera accident data from around the United States and Canada and found an up to 40% increase in accident rates at some camera-equipped intersections. Researchers also contend that insurance companies benefit from the cameras by increasing the premiums of offenders.

"The rigorous studies clearly show red-light cameras don't work," said lead author Barbara Langland-Orban, a professor at the University of South Florida. Orban's team compiled data from five red-light traffic studies and concluded that accident rates increase between 29 and 50 percent at most red-light camera intersections. One North Carolina study showed injury crashes actually rose between 40 and 50 percent over a five year period. Another Virginia Transportation Research Council study calculated an accident rate increase of 29 percent.

The main cause of accidents was people slamming on the brakes to avoid going through a yellow light. Orban claims drivers would normally go through a yellow light at uncontrolled intersections.

Red-light camera supporters have often claimed that the cameras reduce the number of more severe side-impact or "T-Bone" crashes, but the USF study found that controlled intersections saw no measurable decrease in severe accident rates.

Florida has so far banned cities and counties from using red-light cameras, but Hillsborough County has recently approved the installation of 10 red-light cameras. Red-light ticket revenue has been a windfall for cash-strapped cities. San Diego made $30 million in 18 months from such tickets with $7 million coming from one camera. Hundreds of those tickets were thrown out in August 2001 by Superior Court Judge Ronald Styn after discovering that red-light camera maker Lockheed Martin IMS received $70 per ticket.
Orban is advocating giving drivers more time to safely clear the intersection by increasing yellow light times or by making a brief all-red intersection.

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swesson · #2 03-13-2008, 08:24 AM

Excellent report. I've witnessed many times the problems with red light cameras. It is a case of greedy government, not of safety, taking precedence.

rayxi · #3 03-13-2008, 12:56 PM

Good dig. I have forwarded a link to the actual report to our local police and the local news stations.

We have 36 red light cameras rotated through 48 locations in our city. They make a lot of money for the city. They claim a 21% decrease in right angle collisions since the program started in 2001. I have often wondered if there was a corresponding increase in rear end collosions during the same period.

Now they are considering adding the ability to issue speeding tickets using the same cameras. $$$$

B-Line · #4 03-13-2008, 03:10 PM

In Los Angeles, at many intersections, there is now a countdown timer which shows you how much time is left on the Green/Yellow.

I think it's a great device and would almost 100% guarantee that it helps prevent accidents. You can now approach an intersection and have a 10-1 second countdown in motion that alerts you to how much time is left before RED..

It's smart, non-punitive and is pro-active rather than reactive.

B

vegasX5 · #5 03-13-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-Line

In Los Angeles, at many intersections, there is now a countdown timer which shows you how much time is left on the Green/Yellow.

I think it's a great device and would almost 100% guarantee that it helps prevent accidents. You can now approach an intersection and have a 10-1 second countdown in motion that alerts you to how much time is left before RED..

It's smart, non-punitive and is pro-active rather than reactive.

B

On the side of town where I live, almost every light has the "pedestrian" countdown, but it is very useful where you're just driving to see if there is enough time to go for it. The flip side, which is arguably far beneficial, is that you can tell when you need to start braking well in advance so that you can come to a controlled, slower stop (which might even have a slight added benefit of increasing fuel economy).

I have a very strong feeling that just timing lights extremely accurately to increase, not inhibit, traffic flow would do wonders for congestion, accidents, etc while increasing fuel economy and reducing pollution. There's nothing more frustrating that being on a major road and having to slam on your brakes at every stop light for miles to let 1 or 2 or even 0 cars cross the street. I imagine the cost to retime traffic lights would be far cheaper than mandating increases in the fuel consumption of all the vehicles in the world for a similar effect (I am NOT saying that increasing efficiency isn't necessary - just making a point).

rayxi · #6 03-13-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-Line

In Los Angeles, at many intersections, there is now a countdown timer which shows you how much time is left on the Green/Yellow.

I think it's a great device and would almost 100% guarantee that it helps prevent accidents. You can now approach an intersection and have a 10-1 second countdown in motion that alerts you to how much time is left before RED..

It's smart, non-punitive and is pro-active rather than reactive.

B

I think that's a good idea but I can see some drivers focusing on the countdown rather than paying attention to what's going on around them.

We have a similar idea but only on a few major intersections. There is a separate set of advance warning lights some distance before an intersection. If you see the warning lights flashing then the traffic lights will be yellow by the time you get to the intersection, assuming you are going the speed limit or slower. Unfortunately this setup hasn't been pushed by the Police/City because it doesn't generate any revenue.

StanF18 · #7 03-13-2008, 03:57 PM

Having recently been nailed for one of these so-called "violations" on the West Side Highway in NYC, I can tell you that this is a clear case of greedy municipalities looking for another way to put a hand on your pocket.

I appealed the violation in the mail, on the grounds that the yellow was too short for me to come to a safe, controlled stop. It was of such a brief duration that it was clearly designed to make unsuspecting drivers either A) slam on their brakes or B) accelerate through the yellow only to have it turn red in half a second and have your X5 snapped on candid camera.

Of course my appeal was turned down, and to really make matters worse the NYC DOT tacked on another $25 to the $50 fine, claiming I was taking too long to make my payment!

Hopefully there will be an increased grassroots campaign to expose red light cameras for the sham that they truly are. It's a disgusting way to rip off law-abiding motorists on a false pretense of "safety".

alexz · #8 03-13-2008, 05:31 PM

StanF18 I completely with u on this one: yellow lights on west side and all around the city are shortened on purpose, I see it everyday.
Are you ready to raise HELL? Are you willing to email links to all local news channels? If so, I will too.

StanF18 · #9 03-13-2008, 09:15 PM

I don't have loads of free time, but yeah, I'll do it, a little bit at a time. I'll update this thread after I send out the e-mails. Something is definitely afoul on the West Side Highway. Would be great if they send out some investigative reporters to actually time the lights, and see if it's sufficiently long considering the higher speed of the vehicles. I mean it's probably sufficiently long for a side street with a 25 mph limit. But with higher velocities you have to make the yellows longer than say on a side street.

I'll compose a letter and send it out to the local channels.

alexz · #10 03-13-2008, 09:24 PM

send me the copy of the letter, and I will forward it to local news channels in my free time as well
thanks

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