Got Caught By a Red Light Camera?
Well, if you are a South Dakota resident and have SD plates, worry no more. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/3/editorial-three-cheers-for-south-dakota/
Forum Discussion
Pennsylvania has Red Light Running Cameras in Philadelphia. And the laws in PA are written so the municipalities can not change the yellow times. I've done safety studies at the intersections where the cameras are installed and there has been a slight decrease in crashes at those locations. Of course those locations were the worst locations for running red light crashes before the camera installs. At the time I did the study there were 13 locations covered by cameras.
Here is a little excerpt from my study where I looked at all red light running crashes city wide.
Six-year before and after red-light running crash data for the entire City of Philadelphia shows a 45.6% reduction in red-light running crashes, a 49.4% reduction in fatalities, a 45.2% reduction of major injuries, a 61.4% reduction of moderate injuries and a 57.8% reduction of minor injuries. Data was for the time periods of 1999 through 2004 and 2006 through 2011.
There is definitely a safety improvement that can be attributed to the cameras. Add to that the fact that the law also mandates that a portion of the money collected in the way of fines must be spread across the state to be used in other highway safety improvements further reducing crashes and or injuries.
Done right this is a good system. Done wrong, I agree it is a disaster waiting to happen.
Here is a little excerpt from my study where I looked at all red light running crashes city wide.
Six-year before and after red-light running crash data for the entire City of Philadelphia shows a 45.6% reduction in red-light running crashes, a 49.4% reduction in fatalities, a 45.2% reduction of major injuries, a 61.4% reduction of moderate injuries and a 57.8% reduction of minor injuries. Data was for the time periods of 1999 through 2004 and 2006 through 2011.
There is definitely a safety improvement that can be attributed to the cameras. Add to that the fact that the law also mandates that a portion of the money collected in the way of fines must be spread across the state to be used in other highway safety improvements further reducing crashes and or injuries.
Done right this is a good system. Done wrong, I agree it is a disaster waiting to happen.
