Taft Vetoes Restrictive Anti-Camera Bill

Action Preserves Home Rule Traffic Safety Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C.(January 5, 2007) — Traffic safety advocates are applauding Ohio Governor Robert Taft's veto of House Bill 56 today, which would have effectively ended most, if not all, of the automated red light and speed limit traffic enforcement programs across the state.

“The legislature's attempt to shut down local traffic safety programs was irresponsible and the Governor's veto is a victory for public safety over politics. This will allow local governments to continue saving lives and restoring safety and civility on Ohio streets,” said Leslie Blakey, Executive Director of the National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running.

For the past two years, the cities with automated traffic enforcement programs were effectively ignored by both House and Senate lawmakers who drafted the numerous versions of the bill. The bill eventually approved by the legislature had so many restrictive provisions that cities would have been unable to use technology to enforce traffic laws.

“We are extremely relieved that the Governor did the right thing,” said Paul and Sue Oberhauser, red light running survivor advocates from Somerset in Perry County. “After attending so many hearings on this legislation, it was obvious some of the legislators were going to have to have their own personal experience with a red light running crash before they could understand why this technology is so needed in our communities.”

The legislation was actively opposed by the Ohio cities operating traffic enforcement programs as well as the Campaign, The Ohio Municipal League, The Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, the American Insurance Association, The Ohio Committee on Trauma, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and several Ohio bicycling and pedestrian advocacy associations.

The need for additional traffic enforcement in Ohio is obvious. Since 2002, Ohio Department of Public Safety statistics show over 59,500 crashes caused by excessive speeding resulted in over 540 deaths and over 11,500 injuries. During the same time period, crashes caused by drivers running a red light or stop sign killed over 320 people and more than 23,000 have been injured.

However, the cities using red light cameras have been able to help stem this tide. Dayton , which began its project in February of 2003, has seen a 42 percent reduction in crashes at eight intersections monitored by red light cameras. Toledo has seen traffic crashes drop 36 percent since red light cameras were installed.

The Columbus Dispatch recently reviewed the six month results from the initial set of red light cameras installed in Columbus. Among its findings-- There has only been one red light running crash at the two intersections equipped with cameras. Previously each intersection has recorded between 5 and 14 crashes per year. Violations also dropped from 1,684 violations in March to 477 in August. The average violator has been entering the intersection more than two seconds after the traffic light turned red.

Statewide polling conducted by Zogby International in 2005 found that a majority of Ohioans did not want to see the state legislature restrict the ability of communities to use red light cameras.

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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, The National Safety Council, The Governors Highway Safety Association and The International Association of Chiefs of Police.

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.