New Studies Confirm Safety Cameras
Deter Red Light Runners

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 31, 2007) — Two new studies have once again demonstrated the deterrent value of using automated enforcement cameras to reduce red light running.

A new review of traffic data from the City of Philadelphia conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has shown that the introduction of red light cameras after lengthening the yellow-light phase has virtually eliminated red light running violations at two problem intersections.

Researchers tracked signal violation rates at intersections before and after extending the yellow light sequence and again after red light camera enforcement had been in effect for about a year. The first step reduced signal violations by 36 percent. The cameras reduced the remaining violations by 96 percent . At the same time, violations were virtually unchanged at two control group intersections.

According to the study, while both measures reduced red light running, the introduction of the enforcement cameras made the largest difference in reducing violations. Camera opponents often claim that red light running can be eliminated by extending the yellow light sequence.

“Violations virtually disappeared at the six approaches to the two intersections we studied,” said IIHS Senior Transportation Engineer Dr. Richard Retting. “This decrease in violations is all the more remarkable because the intersections were such high crash locations. In fact, they had been identified as having some of the highest crash rates in the nation.”

These new findings have emerged shortly after another red light running study conducted by researchers at Old Dominion University in Virginia.

Dr. Bryan Porter led a team of researchers reviewing data collected both before, during and after the City of Virginia Beach's six-month deployment of red light technology before Virginia's red light camera authorizing law was allowed the sunset. The results showed that red light running violations more than tripled in just the first year after the law expired. Red light running at the several intersections that had previously been equipped with red light cameras is now worse than it was before they were installed.

The ODU study marked one of the first efforts to document red light running when cameras “go dark” because they have been discontinued, in this case, through expiring legislation.

“Communities with red light running problems should closely review the findings of these new important research studies,” said Leslie Blakey, Executive Director of the National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running. “Engineering changes can help, but consistent enforcement of red light running is the best way to change bad driver behavior. In fact, as Virginia Beach has discovered, taking cameras away can cause an even greater problem than existed before since aggressive drivers think they will not be held accountable for their actions.”

Over 150 communities in 21 states and the District of Columbia are now using red light cameras to reduce crashes and violations caused by red light running, including active programs in eight of the ten largest U.S. cities.

Other prominent organizations that endorse the use of photo enforcement include: American Association of State Highway And Transportation Officials (AASHTO), The World Health Organization, The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, The National Safety Council, The Governors Highway Safety Association and The International Association of Chiefs of Police and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

The National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running is a national advocacy group guided by an independent advisory board that includes leaders from the fields of traffic safety, law enforcement, transportation engineering, health care and emergency medicine, as well as crash victims. More information on the Campaign can be found at www.stopredlightrunning.com.

A summary of the IIHS Philadelphia study can be found online at www.iihs.org