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

  • October 26, 2016
    Building the case for photo enforcement
    As red light enforcement is returning to some intersections and being shut down at others, new evidence has been released backing the safety campaigners, reports Jon Masters. In 2014, 709 Americans were killed in red-light-running crashes and an estimated 126,000 were injured according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
  • February 1, 2012
    Growth of legislation in favour of US enforcement market
    The automated road safety enforcement industry in the United States had a very robust 2010. The industry continued to grow to the point that providers now have nearly 5,000 cameras deployed in 25 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with more than 650 communities utilising such life-saving technology. Intersection safety cameras are the most common application but more communities are also implementing road safety camera programmes to deter excessive speeding. Deploying cameras to protect children
  • January 28, 2013
    US study finds cameras reduce red light running
    The latest research by the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that red light running rates declined at Arlington, Virginia, intersections equipped with cameras. The decreases were particularly large for the most dangerous violations, those happening 1.5 seconds or longer after the light turned red. "This study provides fresh evidence that automated enforcement can get drivers to modify their behaviour," says Anne McCartt, senior vice president for research at IIHS and the study's lead au
  • August 23, 2024
    Pedestrians still walking a tightrope in US
    Although the Governors Highway Safety Association says annual US pedestrian traffic deaths fell for first time since Covid, they remain above pre-pandemic levels, finds David Arminas