The very first red light camera ticketing device was used in New York City in 1993. Since that time, some 24 states have implemented red light cameras while another 15 have banned them altogether. You may wonder why there is such a divided opinion on the use of these automated ticketing systems. Research and studies don’t seem to provide a definitive answer as to whether these systems cause accidents or prevent them as you will read both opinions almost equally. If you’ve been the victim of an accident you believe to have been caused by a red light camera, it’s important to have an experienced attorney who is well aware of the diverse opinions regarding red light camera accidents.
Red Light Cameras May Reduce Some Accidents
When referring to broadside car crashes, red light cameras may actually reduce these types of accidents. Broadside car crashes are caused when a car illegally enters crossing traffic, crashing squarely into the side of another car. Slightly more studies than not have shown this particular type of accident is a bit reduced through the use of red light cameras. The Washington Post, however, conducted a study of traffic accidents at intersections policed by red light cameras and found T-bone collisions actually rose 30 percent. The underlying theory is that motorists are less likely to run a yellow or flat-out red light if they are aware of the red light camera at the intersection, however this theory does not always hold true.
Red Light Cameras May Cause Accidents
Even though red-light cameras are occasionally credited with reducing broadside car accidents, they are almost universally given credit for increasing the incidence of rear-end accidents. This occurs when a person is headed through an intersection when the light is green, or has barely turned yellow. They realize there is a red light camera up on the pole and slam on their brakes in an attempt to avoid a ticket in the mail a week down the road. Unfortunately, the person behind them was not privy to that thought process, so plows right into the car whose driver made the sudden—and ill-advised—decision to stop instead of continuing safely through the intersection. In almost every study done, rear-end accidents increased significantly at intersections where red-light camera ticketing systems were being used.
Weighing the Evidence
Because a broadside crash will generally cause more severe injuries than a rear end accident—though not always—proponents of red light cameras believe there are less serious injuries when red light cameras are in place. However, the Washington Post investigation once more found to the contrary, stating that both injury and fatal crashes increases as much as 80% in intersections where red light cameras were used.
What is Spillover Effect?
When drivers change their behavior around other intersections in the area whether or not they are equipped with red light cameras, this is known as spillover effect, meaning that if the red light cameras change behavior—whether negatively or positively—then the behavior is also changed at non-camera intersections. The assumption is that if a red light camera at one intersection brings positive changes to driver’s behavior, then this positive behavior will spill over to all intersections in the area. The same would be true if you believe red light cameras result in negative driver behavior and more accidents.
The truth is, whether red light cameras increase auto accidents or decrease them, as long as they are bringing in the huge amounts of revenue they currently are, they will remain in full force. Municipalities find red-light cameras an easy way to increase city revenues without the need of a human body patrolling the area constantly on the off chance they will catch someone sailing through a red light. If you believe a red-light camera was directly responsible for your accident with injuries, a Mississippi personal injury attorney will be able to advise you as to whether it is likely you could receive a settlement through filing a claim.
Call and speak with an experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyer from Barrett Law, PLLC. Be sure to visit our web blog for more helpful information about your case or call us for a free consultation to answer your important questions.
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