[Infowarrior] - USF study: Red Light Cameras Ineffective

[Richard Forno]

Red Light Cameras Increase Crashes And Insurance Rates - Study

Humphrey Cheung

March 12, 2008 12:11
 
http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/03/12/red_light_cameras_increase_crashes_an
d_insurance_rates_study/

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.