SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK – As reported online by www.thenewspaper.com, a study concludes that the presence of red light cameras in New York may have increased the number of accidents at intersections. A study conducted by Suffolk County reviewed 13,365 crash reports that reveal accidents at intersections with red light cameras increased by 59.6 percent […]
Red light cameras
SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK – As reported online by www.thenewspaper.com, a study concludes that the presence of red light cameras in New York may have increased the number of accidents at intersections.
A study conducted by Suffolk County reviewed 13,365 crash reports that reveal accidents at intersections with red light cameras increased by 59.6 percent after the red light cameras were installed. Additionally, accidents at red light camera intersections increased by 42 percent over the number of accidents at intersections without cameras. Also, fifteen individual photo enforced intersections saw a greater number of accidents involving injuries and fatalities, and researchers cannot identify a specific reason why this is the case.
While the total number of intersection accidents has increased since red light cameras were installed, the study determines that there has been a reduction in the total number of accidents resulting in injuries and deaths. As such, the study concluded that despite a total increase in the number of accidents at red light camera intersections, such cameras should remain in place given the significant reduction in accidents involving injuries and fatalities.
The decision to keep red light cameras at intersections despite the increase in the number of accidents is not a decision liked by everyone. One Suffolk County Legislator stated that the county rigged data to justify the continuation of the red light camera program, ignoring the substantial increase in total accidents that are equipped with red light cameras.
