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

  • Support for speed cameras remains high – but some drivers need convincing
    October 29, 2015
    A national survey by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has shown that although most drivers support speed cameras there are big variations across the country – and Londoners and people in the north-east appear to show higher levels of resistance than most. The survey polled 1,000 drivers of all age groups across Britain and asked “It is now common for the authorities to use speed cameras at the side of the road to identify vehicles involved in speeding offences. How acceptable do you think this i
  • US city extends red light camera contract
    August 19, 2016
    Boynton Beach, in Palm Beach County, Florida has given the green light to extending its contract with American Traffic Solutions, which runs its red light camera program. The commissioners’ vote extends the contract until May 2021. Boynton Beach is the only Palm Beach County municipality running a red light camera program. Other municipalities ended their programs in 2014 following a decision by the 4th District Court of Appeal stated that American Traffic Solutions did not have the authority to issue ti
  • RAC research – ‘speed cameras cut accidents by a quarter’
    June 7, 2013
    New research by the UK’s RAC Foundation indicates that speed cameras reduce the number of fatal and serious collisions in areas where they are installed. Analysis of data for 551 fixed speed cameras in nine areas shows that on average the number of fatal and serious collisions in their vicinity fell by more than a quarter (twenty-seven per cent) after their installation. There was also an average reduction of fifteen per cent in personal injury collisions in the vicinity of the 551 cameras.
  • Study ‘shows more bicyclists on road means fewer collisions’
    June 25, 2014
    A study of cycle versus vehicle accidents carried out by the University of Colorado, Denver (CU Denver) has found that the chance of collision decreased with more cyclists. The risk of accident was relatively high at intersections with less than 200 cyclists per day. “Anywhere above this threshold is where we are seeing the largest safety benefits,” said co-author Wesley Marshall, PhD, PE, assistant professor of civil engineering at CU Denver’s College of Engineering and Applied Science. The reasons for