Study Claims Chicago Red Light Camera Network Is Just A Money Grab - Rear-End Injuries Increase 22%

On Friday, the Chicago Tribune released the results of a study it commissioned on injury crashes and red light cameras, revealing that while right angle crash incidents have been reduced, rear-end crashes that resulted in injuries went up 22 percent. The results of the study throw cold water on the booster efforts of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration and raise questions about the use of red light cameras as a whole.

Chicago is the home of the nation's largest red light camera program and encompasses 350 cameras at a variety of the city's intersections. The red light camera program has been accused of mismanagement and embroiled the mayor's office in a $2 million bribery scandal. But recently, administrators trotted out a seemingly redeeming statistic: that the introduction of the cameras had created a 47 percent reduction in the rate of right angle, or “T-bone,” injury crashes.

xjug1987a - 12/22/2014 2:02:23 PM

-4 Boost

Duh..... the city is, and has been run by Socialist, Liberals for decades... gouging the people to pass around their money is a way of life here. Chicago and Atlanta though, seem to be prospering in spite of their government. Kudos to the creative people that find a way to get things done and prosper, despite out of their out of control "overlords"....

atc98092 - 12/22/2014 2:07:32 PM

+5 Boost

In my town we did not have these issues. That's because they were truly installed for safety. They didn't alter the yellow timing, and every intersection was well signed. In fact, they were so successful at reducing red light runners and T-bone accidents that the cameras no longer pay for themselves, and the city is removing them because they did what they were supposed to.

The cameras can accomplish their safety mission, but it has to be done from that standpoint alone, and not as a revenue generator. Unfortunately, the vast majority (including a town near me) were only installed to earn money.

w222 - 12/22/2014 9:05:43 PM

+2 Boost

We used to have one of these. I got a nice tix and a $500 fine for not making a full stop when making a right turn.
3rd party research contradicts city's data that it make the intersection safer. Obviously it was a cash cow for the city. Eventually it was taken down.

mrcassis - 12/23/2014 2:02:21 PM

+1 Boost

Red light camera's are all Obama's fault. He should be impeached. Conservative values. Conservative principles. Fox News is the truth.

When people get in traffic accidents, it is all Obama's fault. He should be impeached. Conservative values. Conservative principles. Fox News is the truth.

Running red lights is all Obama's fault. He should be impeached. Conservative values. Conservative principles. Fox News is the truth.

jcwconsult - 12/25/2014 8:32:18 PM

+1 Boost

People who understand red light cameras knew for certain that Chicago's system was a predatory money grab, not a safety program. Chicago residents need to demand that all the ticket cameras be removed, they will NEVER be operated for safety, only for money.

James C. Walker, Life Member - National Motorists Association