Red Light Debate: College Station to Increase Red Light Cameras

If you run a red light in College Station and a police officer does not see you, do you still get a ticket? Depending on what red light you run the answer could be yes, and the city of College Station is attempting to increase the places in which that could happen. On February 18, 2008 cameras placed at four different locations in College Station began capturing video and photographic evidence of residents who ran red lights. The cameras have cause controversy and debate, and as the city prepare to place five more cameras in other locations residents have once again been voicing their opinions about the subject.

Even the purpose of the cameras is under discussion. Proponents of the cameras argue that the main purpose the cameras are to catch traffic violators and that a secondary purpose is to prevent traffic accidents. However, opponents of the cameras believe that the genuine motive for the cameras is to raise revenues. According to an article in The Eagle, College Station Traffic Engineer Troy Rother said that “the goal of the program is not to raise money.”

There is strong public support for red light cameras. When asked if they supported red light cameras in the “most dangerous intersections” 69% supported the idea, according to a recent poll by Public Opinion Strategies (POS). The analysis of the poll by POS found that support for the cameras was strong through all demographics and political ideologies.

The National Motorists Association, a for-profit corporation that “supports efforts to retain motorists' freedoms and rights”, opposes red light cameras. The NMA cites ten different reasons to oppose red light cameras. These reasons include that cameras do not improve safety, discourage the synchronization of traffic lights, and that there are better alternatives to cameras. However, the NMA is also a proponent of repealing laws that require seat belts and air bags, and changing laws to allow for higher blood alcohol content limits.

The National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running supports red light cameras. The NCSRLR supports red light cameras because it believes that they are a “proven method of increasing road and intersection safety.” However, the NMA contends that the NCSRLR is “funded by ticket camera corporations and run by a public relations firm in their employ.” Other organizations that support red light cameras are the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the Governors Highway Safety Association.

The Virginia Transportation Research Council, a partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and the University of Virginia, published a report on red light cameras in 2007. The report found that in the area of focus, analysis suggest that red light cameras decreased red light running crashes, but that rear-end crashes increased. After controlling for specific variables, the study found that “rear-end crash rates increased by an average of 27% for the entire study area.” However, the study also found that “red light running crash rates decreased by 42% for the entire study area.” Perhaps the most telling finding of the study was that “crash rate for all crashes…increased by about 12% because of the considerably larger number of rear-end crashes.” The study found that the impacts of traffic safety and the impact of severity of injuries of car accidents varied. In conclusion that study found that “the impact of cameras on injury severity is too close to call.”

This is an interesting issue, with compelling arguments on both sides. Public safety must be taken into consideration, as must the effectiveness of the program. Tomorrow Left of College Station will focus on the legal issues surrounding red light camers.