Skip to main content

Florida red-light camera intersections show reduction in crashes, says report

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles' (DHSMV) fifth annual report on red-light safety cameras, intersections equipped with the technology are challenging a state-wide trend. While overall crashes state-wide have increased by 33 per cent from 2012-2015, crashes specifically related to red-light running at red-light safety camera intersections have decreased by more than three per cent. There is also a reduction in crashes at red-light safety camera intersections involvi
January 6, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles' (DHSMV) fifth annual report on red-light safety cameras, intersections equipped with the technology are challenging a state-wide trend. While overall crashes state-wide have increased by 33 per cent from 2012-2015, crashes specifically related to red-light running at red-light safety camera intersections have decreased by more than three per cent.

There is also a reduction in crashes at red-light safety camera intersections involving non-motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.  These collisions at red-light safety camera intersections fell by nearly 20 per cent while at the same time the number of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities state-wide climbed nearly 33 percent during the four-year period studied in the report.

"This important analysis shows red-light safety cameras continue to stand out as a deterrent to dangerous crashes, especially those involving pedestrians," said Liz Caracciolo, ATS safety general manager. “An overall three per cent reduction in red-light running crashes at Florida's worst intersections, along with a 20 per cent decrease in crashes involving non-motorists are notable achievements considering the fact that crashes are climbing at a frightening rate state-wide.”

Each year, DHSMV gathers and analyses program and crash data from municipalities operating under Florida's Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act.  Of the 58 cities using red-light safety camera to deter red-light running, 28 were selected for an in-depth analysis of crash data specific to intersections armed with the technology.  

Despite these positive results, DHSMV cautions that “the crash analysis should be put into context of the overall complexity of the issue at hand, as many factors may contribute to the change in number of crashes outlined in this report”.

Related Content

  • Lane departure warning, blind spot detection help drivers avoid trouble, say researchers
    September 7, 2017
    According to new research from the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), lane departure warning, a technology designed to address an often-fatal type of crash, is preventing crashes on US roads. A separate study shows that blind spot detection also is yielding benefits when it comes to preventing lane-change crashes.
  • ATS wants drivers to stop running red lights
    January 3, 2017
    US traffic safety camera provider American Traffic Solutions (ATS) has compiled a video (link https://www.atsol.com/2016-worst-red-light-runners/) from its red light cameras in operation in the US and wants drivers to see the collection of red-light running crash videos which it says are too dangerous to ignore. According to independent research, red light cameras have a measurable impact on traffic safety; in 2016, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety determined red-light cameras in 79 large US ci
  • Chicago red light cameras ‘provide few safety benefits’
    December 22, 2014
    Chicago's red light cameras fail to deliver the dramatic safety benefits long claimed by City Hall, according to a first-ever scientific study that found the nation's largest camera program is responsible for increasing some types of injury crashes while decreasing others.
  • New research says anti-drunk driving campaigns should include pedestrians, cyclists
    April 13, 2017
    State Highway Safety Offices and their partners should broaden their anti-drunk driving campaigns to encourage cyclists and pedestrians to consider safer transportation alternatives after heavy drinking. The US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has reported that the ratios of fatally injured alcohol-impaired bicyclists and pedestrians has not fallen as dramatically as the proportion of impaired motor vehicle drivers killed and this remains a significant problem. In fact more than one-third o