FL Study: Crashes Increase at Red Light Camera Intersections (1 Viewer)

[JaxBill]

Not surprised.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A new report from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles takes a hard look at the effectiveness of red light cameras.

The annual state report revealed an increase of crashes when it looked at a sample of 276 cameras across Florida.

In Jacksonville, the study analyzed 23 intersections with red light cameras. From July 2013 to July 2014, there were a total 669 crashes at the intersections. The following year, the number of crashes at those intersections increased to 684.

Sheriff Mike Williams spoke to News4Jax about the report Wednesday. He said he believes that overall, the cameras do impact driving behavior for the better. "I do know over time, drivers adjust and they quit having crashes which is a good thing, that's what we want," Sheriff Williams said. "Even if it saves one life it's worth it."

The study asked the city to self-report other information about its red light cameras. The city says between July 2014 and July of 2015, 34,503 red light violations were recorded. Of those, 1,848 were contested and dismissed by a judge.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/red-light-camera-crashes-increasing

More details about same report

Florida: Accidents Increase At Red Light Camera Locations
Florida report finds red light cameras generated $150 million in revenue along with a 15 percent increase in accidents.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that accidents increased at intersections where red light cameras are in use. State law requires the agency to monitor the performance of automated ticketing machines and submit an annual report on its findings.

This year's audit is the first to include an independent analysis of crashes. It found that accidents increased 15 percent overall at red light camera intersections after the devices were installed. These were not minor fender benders, as the number of incapacitating injuries jumped 29 percent, and there were two additional fatal collisions. Crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists jumped 17 percent at camera locations. Officials were quick to caution that other factors besides the cameras may account for the negative result.

"The probability of a crash occurring increases as people drive more, and daily vehicle miles traveled in Florida increased 4.7 percent from 2011 to 2014," the report explained. "The crash analysis should be put into context of the overall complexity of the issue at hand, as other factors may contribute to the change in number of crashes outlined in this report."

Seventy-one cities and counties in Florida use red light cameras which issued a total of 963,039 tickets worth over $150 million in fiscal year 2015. Of these, 253,744 tickets worth $40 million were issued for right hand turns on red, despite a state law that prohibits tickets for such turns made in a "careful and prudent manner."

Cities like Orlando, Tallahassee and West Park insisted that they judged the success or failure of their programs by whether or not the number of violations dropped. Statewide, there were 22,225 more tickets issued, even though 67 fewer red light cameras were in use. The number of operational cameras is expected to drop substantially as cities continue to dump red light camera programs.

Boca Raton, Campbellton, Cocoa beach, Coral Springs, Daytona Beach, Doral, Hallandale Beach, Holly Hill, Hollywood, Juno Beach, Kenneth City, Margate, North Miami, Oldsmar, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Temple Terrace and West Palm Beach told the state agency that they had either already stopped issuing tickets or would do so by year's end.

A copy of the report is available in a 1mb PDF file at the source link below.

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/48/4878.asp

 

[The Z Machine]

That increase doesn't seem statistically significant to me. If they did this analysis for 100+ camera locations and the average increase in crashes was 15% with a standard deviation of 5%, I could see a case being made.

No, I didn't read the pdf.

 

[bostonfred]

Sheriff Mike Williams spoke to News4Jax about the report Wednesday. He said he believes that overall, the cameras do impact driving behavior for the better. "I do know over time, drivers adjust and they quit having crashes which is a good thing, that's what we want," Sheriff Williams said. "Even if it saves one life it's worth it."

Florida report finds red light cameras generated $150 million in revenue along with a 15 percent increase in accidents.

That's all you really need to know

 

[parasaurolophus]

That increase doesn't seem statistically significant to me. If they did this analysis for 100+ camera locations and the average increase in crashes was 15% with a standard deviation of 5%, I could see a case being made.

No, I didn't read the pdf.

Definitely more than 100 locations were studied.

A few counties really changed the data though, which I suspect has more to do with transparency since things were recorded now.

 

[Quez]

I have a court date in April to go fight one of these. I ran the red, but itbwas during the Autumn equinox, and the sun was directly behind the traffic light. I read in Pinellas county they threw one out because of this, so I am hoping for the same luck. I have a good driving record, and it's my 1st red light camera ticket.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

This is not the first such study. There was a similar one in Lubbock years ago.

Red light cameras need to come down everywhere.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I have a court date in April to go fight one of these. I ran the red, but itbwas during the Autumn equinox, and the sun was directly behind the traffic light. I read in Pinellas county they threw one out because of this, so I am hoping for the same luck. I have a good driving record, and it's my 1st red light camera ticket.

You all don't have the The Ticket Clinic up there? I got a speeding ticket going 23 in a 15...yep and they got it thrown out quick, no points. $75 roughly, well worth it. I never had to go to court.

 

[culdeus]

They aren't even enforcable in Texas anymore. They can send you a ticket and if you are stupid enough to pay it you pay it, otherwise they have no recourse. For awhile they let collection agencies come after you for 20 cents on the dollar, but even that practice was banned. They still make enough money from people that pay the tickets to make them worth keeping up.

 

[glvsav37]

It's being fought hard here on Long Island. In some of the exposing, it appears the county's agreement with Xerox (who makes the cameras) states that Xerox is guaranteed $X amount of revenue per camera per month or else the county needs to make up the difference.

WTF agrees to this ####?

 

[Quez]

I have a court date in April to go fight one of these. I ran the red, but itbwas during the Autumn equinox, and the sun was directly behind the traffic light. I read in Pinellas county they threw one out because of this, so I am hoping for the same luck. I have a good driving record, and it's my 1st red light camera ticket.

You all don't have the The Ticket Clinic up there? I got a speeding ticket going 23 in a 15...yep and they got it thrown out quick, no points. $75 roughly, well worth it. I never had to go to court.

Yes we do, they got my cousin out of a DUI. I'm just gonna take my chances and go to court. I think I have a good case. I have a few pictures showing the sun right behind the lights that I will print out.

It was the light at Fletcher & Bruce B Downs right by USF. They put it in a great spot to target low income people in suitcase city, college students, and cancer patients! American Traffic Solutions also happens to be a big donor to the mayor.

 

[jonessed]

It's about the money, not safety.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I have a court date in April to go fight one of these. I ran the red, but itbwas during the Autumn equinox, and the sun was directly behind the traffic light. I read in Pinellas county they threw one out because of this, so I am hoping for the same luck. I have a good driving record, and it's my 1st red light camera ticket.

You all don't have the The Ticket Clinic up there? I got a speeding ticket going 23 in a 15...yep and they got it thrown out quick, no points. $75 roughly, well worth it. I never had to go to court.

Yes we do, they got my cousin out of a DUI. I'm just gonna take my chances and go to court. I think I have a good case. I have a few pictures showing the sun right behind the lights that I will print out.

It was the light at Fletcher & Bruce B Downs right by USF. They put it in a great spot to target low income people in suitcase city, college students, and cancer patients! American Traffic Solutions also happens to be a big donor to the mayor.

I know the area well, used to rent an apt across from USF. You nailed it, they target the low income areas for some reason. Quez, one thing I have learned is that you are going to do what you want to do, I respect that. But honestly I think you have an uphill battle on the ticket. These ticket clinics have the cases pushed back once or twice and then the cop never shows up and that's that.

But your case is different, not dealing with human error. Good luck, I want to hear what happens. How much if you lose?

 

[GROOT]

That increase doesn't seem statistically significant to me. If they did this analysis for 100+ camera locations and the average increase in crashes was 15% with a standard deviation of 5%, I could see a case being made.

No, I didn't read the pdf.

You could also infer red light cameras don't increase safety at intersections, if that was their intended purpose.

 

[GROOT]

This is not the first such study. There was a similar one in Lubbock years ago.

Red light cameras need to come down everywhere.

especially in New Orleans

 

[cstu]

People tend to make poor decisions about whether to stop or speed up when there's a red light camera. It results in people going too fast through the light and possibility hitting someone or slamming on their brakes making someone hit them from behind.

It's a money grab, pure and simple. Proud of Los Angeles for getting rid of them.

 

[JaxBill]

In Jacksonville, it's different. They target the middle class high traffic areas because they figure those people are most likely to pay.

NW Jacksonville has the worst crime and no cameras.

High priced areas like San Marco, Ortega, Riverside, and Avondale have no cameras either.

See for yourself.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=z1qPFfWs-M-I.kqfRUIqWCQOU&hl=en

 

[Aerial Assault]

So nice that these insidious phony cameras are on their way out. Safety, my ###.

 

[Quez]

I have a court date in April to go fight one of these. I ran the red, but itbwas during the Autumn equinox, and the sun was directly behind the traffic light. I read in Pinellas county they threw one out because of this, so I am hoping for the same luck. I have a good driving record, and it's my 1st red light camera ticket.

You all don't have the The Ticket Clinic up there? I got a speeding ticket going 23 in a 15...yep and they got it thrown out quick, no points. $75 roughly, well worth it. I never had to go to court.

Yes we do, they got my cousin out of a DUI. I'm just gonna take my chances and go to court. I think I have a good case. I have a few pictures showing the sun right behind the lights that I will print out.It was the light at Fletcher & Bruce B Downs right by USF. They put it in a great spot to target low income people in suitcase city, college students, and cancer patients! American Traffic Solutions also happens to be a big donor to the mayor.

How much if you lose?

I think it is like $200 or something. It's basically just a normal ticket now, and I could get points.I actually filled out the request form to protest it in their little kangaroo court, but they said it was late.

I mailed it 2 days before the deadline, but then got a letter in the mail saying it was submitted as a regular ticket. I called ATS and they said they didn't receive it until like a week after. I asked them to show me the post marked date, and they claimed that "that is handled at the processing center" and there was no way to verify it.

They are quick to turn it over, because they immediately get $200 from the municipality.

I will make sure to post about it.

 

[grateful zed]

roundabouts down?