Obeying the speed limit, obeying traffic lights and otherwise driving cautiously should be encouraged to prevent injuries and property damage caused by automobile crashes.
Many cities, including Chattanooga, have installed cameras to catch those who run red lights, arguing that the cameras encourage safer driving by making motorists realize they could be ticketed even if a police officer does not directly witness their illegal acts.
But it’s not certain that theory translates into safer driving.
The Washington Post looked at crash statistics in the six years after Washington, D.C., started installing red-light cameras. As it turned out, there were actually more crashes at intersections where the cameras had been installed. While intersections without cameras also saw a higher number of accidents over those years, the increase was often worse in areas with cameras than in areas without them.
Research in Florida produced similar findings. Professors at the University of South Florida compiled data on crash statistics in areas that had installed red-light cameras. They found that crashes actually rose after cameras were installed.
“Increased rear-end crashes were a particular problem and may occur as drivers attempt to stop abruptly in order to avoid a ticket,” the researchers concluded.
We support legitimate law enforcement efforts to ensure safer driving, but the “Big Brother” aspect of red-light cameras is troubling. And if in fact red-light cameras increase rather than reduce traffic accidents, then it would seem the cameras may be more about raising revenue through fines than about promoting public safety.