03-19-2008, 03:01 AM
Red-light cameras increase collisions, study finds
march 18, 2008
toronto.ctv.ca
Red light cameras might stop people from rushing through an intersection but they certainly don't help people avoid accidents, says a study out of Florida.
The study, based partially on data from Toronto, found that motorists responded to red-light cameras in intersections by slamming on the breaks rather than barreling through traffic.
The results showed a significant increase in the number of fender-benders in those intersections.
Ten red-light cameras are currently rotating between 38 high-traffic intersections in Toronto.
According to the city's website, the cameras have resulted in a dramatic reduction in serious collisions.
"Collisions resulting in deaths and personal injuries were reduced by more than 25 per cent and those resulting in property damage were down almost 18 per cent as a result of the pilot project," reads the city's website.
"Taking a closer look at the City of Toronto locations, the number of angle collisions (those most indicative of red light running) causing death or personal injury were reduced by 48 per cent and the same type of collisions causing property damage were reduced by 26 per cent."
Although the study agreed with Toronto's data that red-light cameras do indeed save lives, it also found that in Toronto the number of collisions increased by 4 per cent. The study found that in six other Ontario cities where the cameras are used, the number of collisions increased by almost 20 per cent.
However, according to the Florida study, published in the March edition of the Florida Public Health Review, improved intersection design and engineering is a much more effective way of ensuring road safety.
"Even if red light cameras could be effective in the long run, which is debatable, they are associated with an added cost, consisting of fines, crashes and injuries that could have been avoided by using engineering solutions, which are effective in both the short term and the long run," the study says.
The paper recommended a number of ways to improve safety in intersections. Some of those recommendations are:
Conducting an engineering analysis of problem intersections
Adding a brief all-red light clearance interval to allow traffic in the intersection to clear prior to releasing cross traffic
Adding intersection warning signs or advanced yellow flashing to caution drivers to reduce their speed as they approach
The report also warned cities to be cautious before using data from the automobile insurance industry.
"Insurance financial goals are to increase their revenues and profits, which do not necessarily include reducing traffic crashes, injuries or fatalities," the report says.
march 18, 2008
toronto.ctv.ca
Red light cameras might stop people from rushing through an intersection but they certainly don't help people avoid accidents, says a study out of Florida.
The study, based partially on data from Toronto, found that motorists responded to red-light cameras in intersections by slamming on the breaks rather than barreling through traffic.
The results showed a significant increase in the number of fender-benders in those intersections.
Ten red-light cameras are currently rotating between 38 high-traffic intersections in Toronto.
According to the city's website, the cameras have resulted in a dramatic reduction in serious collisions.
"Collisions resulting in deaths and personal injuries were reduced by more than 25 per cent and those resulting in property damage were down almost 18 per cent as a result of the pilot project," reads the city's website.
"Taking a closer look at the City of Toronto locations, the number of angle collisions (those most indicative of red light running) causing death or personal injury were reduced by 48 per cent and the same type of collisions causing property damage were reduced by 26 per cent."
Although the study agreed with Toronto's data that red-light cameras do indeed save lives, it also found that in Toronto the number of collisions increased by 4 per cent. The study found that in six other Ontario cities where the cameras are used, the number of collisions increased by almost 20 per cent.
However, according to the Florida study, published in the March edition of the Florida Public Health Review, improved intersection design and engineering is a much more effective way of ensuring road safety.
"Even if red light cameras could be effective in the long run, which is debatable, they are associated with an added cost, consisting of fines, crashes and injuries that could have been avoided by using engineering solutions, which are effective in both the short term and the long run," the study says.
The paper recommended a number of ways to improve safety in intersections. Some of those recommendations are:
Conducting an engineering analysis of problem intersections
Adding a brief all-red light clearance interval to allow traffic in the intersection to clear prior to releasing cross traffic
Adding intersection warning signs or advanced yellow flashing to caution drivers to reduce their speed as they approach
The report also warned cities to be cautious before using data from the automobile insurance industry.
"Insurance financial goals are to increase their revenues and profits, which do not necessarily include reducing traffic crashes, injuries or fatalities," the report says.