Red-light cameras cut crash costs, study shows

April 26, 2006

A new study by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on the safety effects of cameras that document red-light runners concludes that crash costs to society are reduced because of reductions in side-impact crashes.

Side-impact crashes are relatively high in fatalities and injuries and result from red-light running itself. The report also finds that in some cases, rear-end crashes increase at equipped intersections as drivers struggle to stop in time to avoid being recorded and fined.

A new study by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on the safety effects of cameras that document red-light runners concludes that crash costs to society are reduced because of reductions in side-impact crashes.

Side-impact crashes are relatively high in fatalities and injuries and result from red-light running itself. The report also finds that in some cases, rear-end crashes increase at equipped intersections as drivers struggle to stop in time to avoid being recorded and fined.

Rear-end crashes are less implicated in traffic fatalities than side-impact crashes are, research shows.

The report notes that red-light running spurs more than 100,000 crashes and about a thousand deaths per year in the U.S. The study, titled Safety Evaluation of Red-Light Cameras, FHWA-HRT-05-048, analyzed data from intersections in El Cajon, Calif., San Diego and San Francisco; Howard County, Montgomery County and Baltimore, Md.; and Charlotte, N.C.

The report, however, urges further study of the issue and notes that red-light camera systems may be most beneficial at intersections where there are relatively few rear-end crashes and many right-angle ones.

"Even though the positive effects on angle crashes of red-light camera systems is partially offset by negative effects related to increases in rear-end crashes, there is still a modest to moderate economic benefit of between $39,000 and $50,000 per treated site year" with the higher dollar value pegged to exclusion of property-damage-only crashes, the report’s authors stated.

"Even if modest, this economic benefit is important," they wrote. The benefit can be increased by carefully choosing where to put red-light cameras, with an emphasis on sites with high rates of side-impact crashes, they stated.

Sponsored Recommendations

The Science Behind Sustainable Concrete Sealing Solutions

Extend the lifespan and durability of any concrete. PoreShield is a USDA BioPreferred product and is approved for residential, commercial, and industrial use. It works great above...

Powerful Concrete Protection For ANY Application

PoreShield protects concrete surfaces from water, deicing salts, oil and grease stains, and weather extremes. It's just as effective on major interstates as it is on backyard ...

Concrete Protection That’s Easy on the Environment and Tough to Beat

PoreShield's concrete penetration capabilities go just as deep as our American roots. PoreShield is a plant-based, eco-friendly alternative to solvent-based concrete sealers.

Proven Concrete Protection That’s Safe & Sustainable

Real-life DOT field tests and university researchers have found that PoreShieldTM lasts for 10+ years and extends the life of concrete.