The law of unintended consequences has its way with red light cameras
Written by: Beck
The biggest argument in favor of red light cameras is that they increase safety. Opponents always argue that there won't be an appreciable increase in safety, and that the cameras are all about revenue generation. It turns out they were both wrong.
Red light cameras actually lead do a decrease in safety, with increased accidents in areas that have installed them. From the research abstract:
Running a red light can cause severe traffic crashes especially when one vehicle runs into the side of another. Red light cameras photograph violators who are sent traffic tickets by mail. Intuitively, cameras appear to be a good idea. However, comprehensive studies conclude cameras actually increase crashes and injuries, providing a safety argument not to install them.
