Suburb Casts Public Safety Aside After Study Shows 40% INCREASE In Accidents And 75% INCREASE In Injuries From Red Light Cameras

After a year of use, red light cameras have failed to deliver the promised safety benefits in Baytown, Texas. The Houston suburb activated the majority of its cameras on July 13, 2008. Since then, the number of accidents at eight camera locations has increased 40 percent, contrary to predictions from city officials. The increase in accidents has not been in minor "fender benders," as is frequently claimed by photo ticketing advocates. Rather, the number of collisions resulting in an injury jumped 75 percent. Rear end collisions increased 39 percent. Results from comprehensive, independent studies elsewhere in the country have yielded similar results.

"Clearly this shows no remedial effect on driving habits over time," Byron Schirmbeck, the leader of a grassroots effort to ban the cameras in Baytown, told TheNewspaper.

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Larrybel2000 - 8/20/2010 11:37:50 AM

+1 Boost

Red light cams are a waste. Is the intention of the camera to just make money a few bucks from missed tickets? I don't see that many people running red lights. Plenty of yellow but not many red. Insurance companies should raise the premiums on police vehicles and people who live in towns with these cams. Maybe that would get the attention of the city.

Larry B.
Key West.