Red-light cameras proving successful

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The Virginian-Pilot
© November 8, 2009

Motorists cruising through Virginia Beach seem to be getting the message: Stopping on red is more than a notion.

That’s what police are saying, now that red-light cameras have been up and snapping for several months. The Beach’s PhotoSafe Program is doing exactly what it was designed to do: decrease red-light violations at several key intersections.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that nearly 900 people were killed and 153,000 others injured nationwide in red-light crashes in 2007. Impatience and driver inattention contribute.

Virginia Beach restarted its program in March, after a pilot program expired several years ago. The city has approved 20 systems at 13 intersections. Drivers are subject to $50 fines.

Police say red-light running decreased by as much as 69 percent at monitored intersections. Beach police approved nearly 14,000 citations in the program between March 13 and Sept. 30, according to Virginian-Pilot writer Kathy Adams.

Much of the controversy seems to have faded. In passing legislation in 2007, the General Assembly set up specific guidelines: Localities first had to do safety studies for targeted intersections. The Virginia Department of Transportation had to approve those intersections.

Besides Virginia Beach, VDOT has given the OK to Alexandria and Arlington County; Chesapeake and Newport News also want them. Chesapeake is considering nine intersections and is doing studies now.

The primary goal is safety and reducing T-bone crashes. Police in the Beach say that’s happening. That’s why the commonwealth’s largest city, and 400 other communities nationwide, snap a photo when motorists break the law.

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Dominos

Submitted by truthseeker on Tue, 11/10/2009 at 10:33 am.

1. The red light cameras have proven to reduce red-light runners.
2. With fewer red light runners, there are fewer "t-bone" crashes.
3. With fewer t-bone crashes there are fewer ER admissions.
4. With fewer ER admissions there fewer non-insured patients.
5. With fewer non-insured patients, there are less hospital costs.
6. With less hospital costs the fees will drop.
7. With lower fees your health insurance should go down.
8. With lower insurance premiums there will be no need for reform.
9. This should make all good republicans squirm with joy and work to increase the number of red light cameras.

(Don't laugh. This makes as much sense as the camera opponents and health care reform opponents put together!)

which is it?

Submitted by hatterasnc on Sun, 11/08/2009 at 6:26 pm.

[The Beach’s PhotoSafe Program is doing exactly what it was designed to do: decrease red-light violations at several key intersections.]

[The primary goal is safety and reducing T-bone crashes.]

Both are stated in the article.
1. The system is struggling to pay its' costs to the service provider, providing no revenue to the City, which I admit is surprising - but sure to change.
2. The vast majority of citations are the "last-one-through" type. There is no prevention of outright negligence and reduction in "T-bones".

So, how will "success" be measured next month? Next year? Not in feel-good subjective opinions. Only in terms of revenue. Which is why they are there in the first place.