Red-Light Cameras Not So Special?

By Anthonia Akitunde in News on Nov 22, 2009 7:00PM

Anyone who has received a $100 ticket in the mail for blowing through a traffic light is familiar with red-light cameras. Beginning in 2003, these cameras have been installed at some of Chicago's busiest interactions in an attempt to curb traffic accidents. But are they meeting their goal?

It depends on who you ask. A report from the Chicago Tribune finds a discrepancy between state and city records on the effectiveness of red-light cameras. According to the report, Illinois Department of Transportation records show an increase in crashes at intersections where cameras are installed compared to the years cameras were not present. However, the city's record finds the cameras very successful in reducing traffic accidents.

The state's numbers looked at all 47 intersections that had cameras installed in 2006 or 2007, according to the Tribune. IDOT found that "although some Chicago intersections indeed appear to benefit from the presence of cameras, nearly 60 percent do not," the report said. The city's numbers found that accidents declined more than 60 percent at intersections where cameras were installed in the same years.

Differences in state and city numbers could be attributed to "different interpretations of when an accident is truly intersection-related," according to the report.

The controversy behind traffic-light cameras continues on, as some skeptics think the cameras increase unsafe driving (slamming on the brakes to avoid getting a ticket) and act as a revenue-building scheme (camera-generated tickets brought the city $45 million).

Chicago will have 189 cameras installed by the end of the year, far outpacing other metro cities, such as Los Angeles (32) and New York (150).

[Tribune]