Red light Cameras – Do they reduce accidents?
There has been more rear-end wrecks and fewer T-bone collisions at Kingsport’s red light camera intersections. Kingsport, Tennessee has collected $500,000 in less than a year and have expanded it’s red light camera program to other locations.
Kingsport police recently went to Greeneville, TN to tell the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Alderman how the program works in Kingsport. I trust that Kingsport will send Greeneville a bill for the wages/expenses of the police officer that went to Greeneville to do the presentation. See link City Studies Red-Light Cameras, Hears How Kingsport Uses Them.
Listed below are some studies that have been conducted.
Red Light Camera Studies Roundup
2007 Virginia DOT Report Shows Red Light Cameras Increase Accidents
Washington Post: Red Light Cameras Increase Accidents
Burkey-Obeng Red Light Camera Study
Majority Leader Armey Red Light Camera Report
Longer Yellows Reduce Crashes (TX Transportation Institute)
Federal Safety Evaluation of Red-Light Cameras—Executive Summary
The link below from the Federal Highway Administration outlines measures that can help to reduce red-light running. If Kingsport is truly interested in safety, then they should insure that they are doing everything possible to reduce accidents. Take the money that they are getting from red light violations and invest it to improve safety. The money should not be used to go into the fund to build the Kingsport empire. A Toolbox of Engineering Countermeasures to Reduce Red-Light Running
There has been cases where cities have reduced the yellow light time in order to increase revenues. On another note, if I thought I was going to be rear ended and get hurt and if there was no cross traffic, then I might run the red light. I would rather pay the $100 fine than the $500 deductible on my auto insurance.