Fatal crashes at intersections with traffic lights are up in Virginia but declined over the last five years in Maryland and the District, a new report shows, and experts credit the use of red-light cameras for the drop. Nationally, fatal crashes in intersections with traffic lights decreased 17 percent between 2005 and 2009, according to the study by the National Safety Council. Fatal crashes involving red-light violations, meanwhile, were down 27 percent.
“Clearly people understand more than they did five years ago that running red lights is a bad idea,” said David Kelly, director of the National Coalition for Safer Roads, who noted that traffic fatalities of all kinds are at an all-time low. Kelly pointed to aggressive use of cameras to catch those running red lights in the District and in Maryland as a key reason for the drop in the number of fatal crashes in those areas.
Virginia, which has only recently renewed its interest in using red-light cameras, saw an increase in fatal crashes at intersections, from 39 in 2005 to 51 in 2009, according to the report. In Northern Virginia, only Arlington County and Falls Church operate red-light cameras, though other localities are seeking state approval to install them.
The safety council’s report is the second in just over a month to reflect favorably on the use of red-light cameras. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in February found that 159 lives were saved in 14 cities nationwide by red-light cameras between 2004 and 2008.
As long as red-light cameras are implemented for the right reasons – for public safety, not simply to generate revenue – they will continue to play a greater role in traffic enforcement, according to John Townsend, spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic.
“Despite what critics say about money grubbing and money grabbing, [red-light cameras] have a role in terms of traffic safety if the safeguards are in place,” Townsend said.
