Published January 15, 2021

Arizona Automobile Accidents Largely Reduced Thanks To Red-Light and Speeding Cameras

Written by Shanna Day Team

Arizona Automobile Accidents Largely Reduced Thanks To Red-Light and Speeding Cameras header image.

Just how effective are traffic enforcement red-light and speeding cameras? A 2016 Scottsdale Photo Enforcement evaluation revealed that within five tracked areas with cameras spread out at segments, total crashes of all types went down by 33%, rear-end crashes were decreased by 50% and crashes related to speed violations were lowered by 65%. The same evaluation also showed intersections had all crashes reduced by 23%, rear-end crashes fell 22% and left-turn crashes dropped by 61%.

Scottsdale has been using photo enforcement technology since 1996. However, it was two other Arizona communities, Peoria and Paradise Valley, that started the implementation of speed cameras in 1987 to reduce car accidents and car crash fatalities. Three decades after, 142 communities in 14 US states now utilize speed cameras as a way to change driver behavior without having to expend significant resources on traffic enforcement.

Take for example a 2015 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an independent nonprofit fully funded by auto insurance companies. The IIHS found in 2015 an estimated 137,000 people injured in red light running crashes. In addition, a violation rate of 3.2 per hour per intersection were found in 19 intersections that didn't employ red light cameras in four states. Research done by IIHS and other groups strongly shows the effectiveness of red-light and speed cameras in increasing safety while reducing speeding and crashes. These studies also helps police departments like Scottsdale's determine which locations are best to place the cameras in addition to neighborhood input and support.

Source Article:

https:/mylocalnews.us/