Staff photo by Dan Henry/Chattanooga Times Free Press – Motorists pass one of a number of traffic cameras that monitor the ridge cut along I-24 on Wednesday.OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – A study has found that the number of speeding motorists increased immediately following a decision to disable traffic cameras in Oak Ridge.
The study by Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. was done at the city’s request after officials decided not to renew a contract making use of the cameras, which were turned off April 21.
“At the request of the city, Redflex disabled the cameras and flashes but allowed the computers and sensors to remain operational, allowing for the continued collection of traffic count and speed data for analysis,” according to the study.
“Speeding began to increase immediately after the cameras were deactivated,” the report continues.
Redflex spokesman Lee Buckels told The Knoxville News Sentinel that the company compared traffic statistics from the three weeks immediately before and after the cameras were turned off.