There are a lot of studies out there about the effectiveness of Red Light Cameras (RLCs). The majority of the independently funded and academically funded studies find that installing RLCs will actually increase the number of accidents at intersect
ions rather than reduce, which is of course why they were installed in the first place right? To reduce accidents.
Others will claim them to be nothing more the revenue generators, arguing RLCs can obviously capture more drivers running red lights than having a police presence at every intersection.
Recently, here in Montgomery, AL, the city has put RLCs at strategic locations around the city. Let me point you to some stories that have been out recently that should show why the city should have never put the cameras up in the first place, but more importantly, why they need to take them down before it hurts them.
This article shows studies of RLCs and their lead to an increase in accidents.
This article shows why the city of Dallas has found their red light cameras to be so effective in reducing red light running (while not mentioning the increase in accidents), that the city is taking them down because they are not gaining the revenue they used to.
Some of the worst offenders are not using RLCs to reduce accidents, instead they are only using them to generate revenue by making the yellow light shorter. Shameful!
I hope these articles and links have proved to be more than enough information to see how devastating RLCs really are. They don’t make the city any more money, and they increase the number of accidents from people slamming on their breaks to avoid receiving a ticket from a machine that can’t make judgment calls. Let the city know how you feel, and back it up with the solid information I have provided here.