Data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that having traffic enforcement cameras at intersections can reduce the number of red light-running violations by some 40%. Big cities that implement a camera system also see 21% fewer fatalities from red light-running crashes than do other big cities. Tennessee residents may be wondering, then, why red-light cameras have fallen out of favor with so many cities.
There were 533 communities with red-light cameras back in 2012. By mid-2018, that number was 421. The reason is largely a lack of public support. The public sees how camera systems can be used not so much to save lives as to generate revenue for the city. Chicago is one example of this abuse. In 2014, it had the largest red light camera system of any U.S. city. Incidentally, its yellow light duration was the shortest that the federal government allows.
It should be noted that red light-running crash fatalities went up 17% between 2012 and 2018. The decline in cameras could be one factor in this, but others do exist.
The IIHS, AAA, and other safety organizations have given tips on how communities can strengthen public support for cameras. Among these are the tips to target only the most dangerous intersections and to provide signage warning drivers about the cameras.
Drivers who break the traffic laws and cause motor vehicle accidents, as a result, will be held liable for any injuries on the other side. Victims, for their part, may be compensated for past and future medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and even emotional trauma. For instance, car accident victims may develop PTSD. Whatever the nature of the case, victims may wish to consult a lawyer. With a lawyer, they might be able to receive a fair out-of-court settlement.