More than 800 people died in crashes involving red light running in 2016, an increase of 17 percent since 2012, according to analysis by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The increase comes as fewer U.S. communities are using red light cameras to enforce the law and reduce crashes. To encourage cities and localities to use automated enforcement, four national safety organizations have produced a red light camera checklist for local policymakers, law enforcement agencies and transportation officials.
“We developed the guidelines to help communities avoid the problems that have undermined programs in the past,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “We know turning off cameras results in more crashes, injuries and deaths, so it’s important that camera programs succeed.”
Red light running is one of the most common factors in urban crashes. More than half the people killed in red light running crashes are pedestrians, bicyclists and people in other vehicles hit by the red light runners.
The new red light camera checklist released by AAA, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, IIHS and the National Safety Council, provides practical instructions for planning, implementing and evaluating red light camera programs, including steps to help communities build and maintain public support.
As of July 2018, 421 communities had red light camera programs, down from 533 that had a program at any time during 2012. Although new camera programs continue to be added, the total number of camera programs declined because more programs were discontinued than were initiated. Commonly cited reasons for turning off cameras include a reduction in camera citations, difficulty sustaining the financial viability of the program and community opposition.
“Red light cameras can play a role in improving traffic safety for all road users and should be placed where they can benefit a community, like at intersections with high numbers of fatalities,” said Jill Ingrassia, AAA’s managing director of Government Relations and Traffic Safety Advocacy. “When properly implemented, red light cameras can help save lives and can serve to supplement law enforcement efforts, rather than generate revenue for governments. This new set of guidelines is an excellent starting point in ensuring adequate safeguards are put in place to maintain the public’s trust.”
