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| Poll Shows Majority Of Ohioans Support Red Light Cameras Opposition Strongest Among Libertarians, Urbanites, Youngest Drivers WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 25, 2005) — New Ohio poll results released today by the National Campaign To Stop Red Light Running show that 54 percent of Ohioans do not want to see the state legislature restrict the ability of communities to use red light cameras. Legislation sponsored by Rep. James Raussen (R-Springdale) and currently before the Ohio State Senate Committee on Highways and Transportation would effectively prohibit the use of red light cameras. The interactive poll of over 1,200 Ohioans was conducted over a two-day period last week by Zogby International. Among the respondents, support for red light cameras was strongest among:people ages 70 and older (73 percent)
The strongest opposition to the use of red light cameras for traffic enforcement came from: Libertarians (61 percent), people with incomes under $15,000 per year (62 percent), younger drivers from ages 18 to 29 (57 percent), residents of large cities (49 percent) and single people (47 percent). Younger drivers, people who drive alone, and lower income or unemployed drivers are all general characteristics of drivers who are more likely to run red lights according to a 1999 study by a team of researchers led by Dr. Bryan Porter, a professor at Old Dominion University. “The Ohio legislators who don't seem to think that red light running is a serious local traffic safety problem obviously do not speak for the majority of Ohioans who are tired of seeing the senseless carnage on their streets,” said Campaign Executive Director Leslie Blakey. “It is vitally important that Ohioans let their legislators, especially those in the State Senate, know that they want their cities to have the option of using this lifesaving technology.” The red light cameras in use in several Ohio cities use sensor technology embedded in the pavement and cameras mounted at the approaches to intersections to photograph the rear of vehicles that enter an intersection after the light turns red. Red light cameras in Ohio do not continuously monitor intersections and drivers are not identified by the photographs. Once a police officer has reviewed the photographs, a civil violation is sent by mail to the registered owner of the vehicle. Over 110 U.S. cities and towns in 20 states and the District of Columbia now use red light cameras to enforce traffic signal compliance and reduce red light running violations. In April, the Governor of Washington signed legislation that will allow for statewide expansion of red light cameras and Rhode Island approved enabling legislation for red light cameras in July. Past national polling conducted by the National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running in 2002 found 83 percent support for red light cameras in cities with a red light running problem and a 2002 national driver survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found 75 percent supported the use of cameras at red lights. 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.
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