EA S

"Andreassen (1995) found that the installation of RLC's [red light cameras] at 41 sites studied did not result in any reduction of accidents at those sites. Further, he found no significant differences between crashes at RLC sites compared with signalised intersections in Melbourne generally."

Red Light Running Behaviour at Red Light Camera and Control Intersections
Monash University Accident Research Centre
http://www.general.monash.edu.au/muarc/rptsum/es73.htm

Be that as it may, the Victoria Police Traffic Camera Office prefer a 1988 report that says red light cameras reduce the number of casualties by 10.4%, saying "From these statistics it is clear that the introduction of red light cameras has been beneficial in reducing the number of collisions and casualties at controlled intersections"
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~tco/html/redlight.htm


As the police wouldn't mislead us about road safety or rely on outdated research to justify a red light camera program that doesn't contribute to road safety while earning profitable revenue, I guess poor old Andreassen got it wrong when he studied a mere 41 RLC sites and said they didn't work.

Isn't it amazing how every time I go outside the sources that are in favour of speed limits, speed cameras, and now red light cameras, there is well qualified and independent research to contradict them? I suppose that just goes to show that the police and politicians are a lot smarter than academics and independent research bodies who disagree with them. It's lucky the rest of the public doesn't get to hear about this, or people might start to think that the politicians and police are trying to pull the wool over our eyes.

Adam W

Smart Politicians that will be the day,
more like when Hell freezes over.

XT500

There's a RLC on a main intersection near our house, and they don't even put the camera in the box anymore. There has been so much inconsistancy with the camera that they dont bother with it.
My Dad a few years ago was in the right turn lane, drove over (through) the stopline, waiting for approaching cars to stop coming the other way. When the light turned red, he proceeded to turn right through the intersection, "clearing" it if you like. But all the camera saw was his car in the middle of the intersection, and then 7 seconds later when he had cleared it.
According to the police, he had crossed the line after the light turned red, but in truth he crossed it when the light was orange. The photos did not reveal this, as they were still shots and not video footage. He took it to court, but the police got it their way and dad was fined $200 or something.
This brings up what someone else said about the camera removing the police's personal intuition.

BTW if you ever want to see if a RLC is working or not, drive through the intersection when the light is yellow, stop in the middle, wait for the red light and then reverse back to behind the line. They can't get you for this and you will be able to see the flash.

Sorry for rambling...
it just gets under my skin.

EA S

Given a choice, I'd stick with the camera.