Survey – Americans support red light cameras

The long arm of the law these days is often in the form of a robotic camera that captures motorists who run red lights. But the cameras are not always popular. New Jersey is scheduled to discontinue use of red light cameras on 16 December, and several other cities and states are considering similar moves. Despite the controversy, a majority of Americans back the use of red light cameras, according to a new survey from FindLaw.com, the most popular legal information website. The FindLaw.com survey foun
December 16, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
The long arm of the law these days is often in the form of a robotic camera that captures motorists who run red lights. But the cameras are not always popular. New Jersey is scheduled to discontinue use of red light cameras on 16 December, and several other cities and states are considering similar moves.

Despite the controversy, a majority of Americans back the use of red light cameras, according to a new survey from FindLaw.com, the most popular legal information website.

The FindLaw.com survey found that 56 percent of Americans support the use of red light cameras, while 44 per cent oppose them.

Law enforcement and safety advocates say the devices are effective at catching violating motorists and enhance public safety at dangerous intersections. Opponents say the cameras are merely a means of enhancing a city's revenues from citations, and may actually decrease safety by scaring drivers into making sudden stops, causing rear-end collisions.

Last month, voters in Cleveland approved a measure banning red light cameras in the city. Several states and municipalities have adopted or are considering similar measures.

"Traffic laws vary considerably by state and municipality, and that includes the consequences of receiving a traffic citation," said Stephanie Rahlfs, attorney-editor at FindLaw.com. "Every state has a different 'points' system that assigns different values to various traffic law violations. In addition, receiving a citation can often impact your auto insurance rates and renewals. It's prudent to always be aware of the traffic laws in the particular city and state where you are driving."
Enforcement

Related Content

  • Deaths of US pedestrians rise sharply, says GHSA report
    April 2, 2019
    Pedestrian deaths across the US have risen to their highest number in nearly 30 years. Many factors are responsible - including the rise and rise of SUVs - according to a worrying new GHSA report ore pedestrians died on US roads last year than in any year since 1990. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) suggests that 6,227 pedestrians were killed in 2018 – a 4% increase on 2017. Pedestrian deaths as a percentage of total motor vehicle crash deaths increased from 12% in 2008 to 16% in 2017, whi
    Read More
  • Consumers want in-vehicle technology but willingness to pay for it varies, says survey
    June 22, 2017
    A new global survey on consumer preferences for automotive technology finds more consumers want advanced technology in their next new vehicle. However, their willingness to pay for technology demonstrates a wide variety of viewpoints from consumers across leading global markets, says the survey from business information provider IHS Markit
    Read More
  • Delivering accurate vehicle identification
    August 1, 2012
    In the Netherlands, TNO, the independent research organisation, has been engaged in a project on behalf of the RDW, the Dutch vehicle registration and licensing authority, intended to look at the feasibility of using electronic means to make vehicle identification more accurate and less susceptible to fraud. Electronic Vehicle Identification (EVI) has been in existence in various forms for several years now but TNO was tasked with finding out whether OnBoard Unit (OBU)-based applications could be complement
    Read More
  • Doha implements traffic control system
    November 21, 2012
    Expansion of ITS systems has accelerated in Qatar this year, with rapid deployment of a traffic control system in Doha. Less than 10 years from now an extensive system of ITS technology will be operating in Qatar, informing and directing users of the country’s roads. That can be stated with confidence for a number of reasons: the world’s richest country per capita will host the World Cup in 2022 and is understood to be planning to develop sophisticated systems of ITS for road safety and traffic managemen
    Read More

Highlighted Content