Critics cite many concerns--privacy, safety, accuracy, fairness--but cameras are gaining ground and cities are cashing-in on the hefty fines paid by offenders.
"They're (cameras) in use in Denver; Atlanta; New York City; Portland, Ore.; and Seattle. More seem to pop up every month."
"There is no doubt that red-light running is a big problem. Drivers running red lights account for about 22% of traffic accidents in the U.S., according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. And that number has been growing: Deadly automobile crashes at traffic signals jumped more than 13% between 1993 and 2003, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, far outpacing the nearly 7% rise in other fatal crashes during that period. A big part of that jump is caused by red-light running, the government says. The offense now kills about 900 people annually and injures 176,000 more."
"...no one denies the need to stop red-light runners," but "there's some debate as to whether cameras truly make intersections safer."
Thanks to D. A. Varnado, AICP
FULL STORY: Are red light cameras fair to drivers?
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research