Red Light Cameras Save Lives

Traffic crashes are the single most significant cause of preventable death and injury in North America. In 2007 in the U.S., almost 900 people were killed and an estimated 153,000 were injured in crashes that involved red light running. Public costs exceed $14 billion per year, and more than half of the deaths in red light running crashes are other motorists and pedestrians. There is no doubt that red light runners are dangerous drivers who irresponsibly put others at risk. In America’s cities ― where too often the yellow light has come to symbolize “hurry up” instead of “slow down” ― red light running is the leading cause of all urban automobile crashes.

The American public recognizes the problem, is deeply concerned about red light running and supports the use of red light cameras. A nationwide survey sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and conducted by the Gallup Organization found that 75 percent of drivers favored the use of red light cameras. Most Americans (96 percent) are afraid of being hit by a red light runner, but nearly one in five admit to running a red light in the last ten intersections. The leading excuse given for red light running was neither frustration nor road rage; it was “being in a hurry.”

Yet, here in Tennessee it appears that a number of citizens see red light cameras as a “Big Brother ” ploy to take away their rights and a vocal minority of ignorant people are lobbying for laws that prohibit them. How stupid is that? This is a proven technology that saves lives and millions of dollars in insurance claims and some paranoid fools who have nothing better to do, usually citizens who have received tickets for running red lights,  are pressuring spineless self-centered politicians to enact laws that prohibit them. Shame on us.

Check out my web site at www.seriousinjury.com for more information about this subject.

A recent Supreme Court ruling has raised questions as to whether technicians who calibrate photo enforcement cameras or perform back-room processing can be required to testify if the accused violators challenge the citations in court. The Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts ruling, said a defendant has the right to cross examine the experts who prepared crime lab reports.

In the majority opinion, Justice Antonin Scalia said technicians who prepared these reports acted as “witnesses” for the prosecution. Under the 6th Amendment, in all criminal prosecutions the accused has the right “to be confronted with the witnesses against him.”

While the ruling does not appear to apply to photo traffic enforcement programs where infractions are considered civil violations, the ruling’s impact is less clear when photo enforcement violations are considered criminal offenses. Defense attorneys already have said they hope to start requiring police to make available technicians who calibrate radar guns or other equipment used to catch speeders.

If you want to learn more about a myriad of issues related to highway driving and Tennessee auto accident cases  check out my web site . The experienced Nashville auto accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates can answer all of your questions.

Reduce Intersection Crashes

My experience as a Nashville automobile accident lawyer and my study on the subject of intersection crashes tells me that Red Light Cameras (RLCs) reduce the number of fatalities, personal injuries and property damages to a huge extent.

A recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study in Oxnard, California, showed that red light running violations dropped a total of 42 percent after well publicized photo enforcement was introduced. Another study in Fairfax, Virginia, showed that violations declined about 40 percent after one year of photo enforcement. A key to all effective traffic law enforcement is publicity; without it there is no deterrent effect, and the purpose of red light cameras is deterrence.

In a recent national survey of voters, Public Opinion Strategies found that fully 69% of Americans support the use of “red-light cameras” at the most dangerous intersections in their states, while just 29% oppose them. Those voters “strongly” supporting red-light cameras outnumber those who strongly oppose them by a wide 45%-18% margin.  The study showed support for these red-light cameras is not only very strong nationally, but cuts across all demographic and attitudinal groups, including men and women, young and old, Republicans and Democrats, and conservatives and liberals.

In Tennessee a number of cities and towns use the cameras and the results are positive. There is a move from some political persons to ban the use of RLCs statewide, claiming that they are a violation of our Constitution. I suggest that these political people, for whatever their reasons, leave the job of traffic enforcement to the local governments. Despite the fact that the statistics show a decrease in accident and injury, they simply deny the facts. It’s time for some leadership from our elected officials. To those “flat world politicians”, I suggest that we embrace technology in the spirit of saving lives.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee intersection accident you are going to need an experienced Tennessee automobile accident lawyer, one who understand the myriad avenues of seeking just compensation for victims. Intersection accidents may well be the fault of the designers of the roadway as well as the speeding or negligent driver who hits you. At Phillip Miller & Associates we have just the kind of experience tht you need to assure you are adequately compensated.

When people at holiday parties find out that I am a Nashville automobile accident attorney I’m usually bombarded with questions. This year’s topic seemed to be Red Light Cameras (RLCs). Although many people understand the purpose of the cameras is to save lives and prevent property damages, there are still those who think that it’s simply big brother government reaching into the taxpayers pockets. To these people I say, “You’re Wrong, Red Light Cameras save lives.”

Each year crashes involving red light running claim the lives of more than 800 people and injure another 200,000 people. More than half of the deaths in red light running crashes are other motorists and pedestrians, so there should be no debate about the fact that red light runners are dangerous drivers who put other road users at risk.  A recent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study in Oxnard, California, showed that red light running violations dropped a total of 42 percent after well publicized photo enforcement was introduced.  Another study in Fairfax, Virginia, showed that violations declined about 40 percent after one year of photo enforcement.  A key to all effective traffic law enforcement is publicity; without it there is no deterrent effect, and the purpose of red light cameras is deterrence.

Photo enforcement has such a strong deterrent effect precisely because it is not like so-called “speed traps.” The old image of a speed trap was that of “secret” enforcement at a location where almost every driver speeds. Officers could pick and choose whomever they wished to cite, even drivers who barely exceeded the limit.

The objective of photo enforcement is to deter violations, not to surreptitiously catch violators. The more public the enforcement is, the better.  Photo-enforcement cameras are in plain view, not hidden. There typically are signs and publicity campaigns warning drivers that photo enforcement is in use.  And unlike speed traps, photo enforcement is fair. The cameras are programmed not to photograph vehicles turning right on red or caught in the intersection when the light changes. Only violators who meet objective criteria specifically designed to omit minor, unintended infractions are photographed. There is no potential for impermissible profiling or discriminatory enforcement where photo enforcement is in use.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee intersection accident contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney’s at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to learn about your rights and remedies.

Intersection Crashes

Knoxville TV station WBIR reports that in the first 45 days in operation the Red Light Cameras at three high accident intersections (RLCs) at recorded over 4000 violations. After review, officials rejected 400 and another 500 were dismissed because of technical reasons. This leaves 3019 red light running drivers facing $50.00 fines.

Intersection and intersection-related crashes consistently make up a high proportion of total fatal crashes, up to 23 percent. More than 50 percent of the combined fatal and injury crashes occur at intersections. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2005 alone, nearly 9,200 people died and approximately one million people were injured in intersection-related crashes which account for approximately 40-45 percent of all crashes. According to 2005 data from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, crashes caused by red light running (RLR) resulted in an estimated 805 fatalities.

RLR is a dangerous form of aggressive driving. Based on self-reported behavioral surveys, RLR is a result of people wanting to save time. However, several factors can lead to RLR such as impatient and inattentive drivers, improperly timed traffic signals, lack of enforcement efforts and the attitude that no harm will come from running a red light.

Many citizens complain the RLCs are simply a new way of raising money for the city. The facts show that this claim is baseless and comes mostly from those who do not want to take responsibility for their dangerous actions and the politicians who pander to them. Economic analysis showed that RLCs saved society $39,000 to $50,000 annually at each intersection where they are installed. (The costs considered include: hospital bills, property damage to vehicles, insurance expenses, value of lost quality of life, and other costs.)

In a statewide study conducted in Arizona the following statistics show the benefits of RLCs to the overall community:

• 17.6% (2,940) fewer property damage collisions

• 18.5% (1,189) fewer injury collisions

• 19.2% (43) fewer fatal collisions (24 fewer lives lost)

Statewide DPS Officer Statistics

• Spent 9,224 less hours investigating 4,891 fewer collisions

• Conducted 52,791 more traffic stops

• Made 610 more total arrests

• Arrested 52 more impaired drivers

• Arrested 324 more drug offenders

If you or a loved one is junjured or killed in a Nashville intersection collision contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

Camera Enforcement At Intersections Paying Off

It appears that the initial controversy in some Tennessee cities and towns about the use of red light cameras (RLC) has gone by the wayside as statistics from local traffic and police departments are beginning to show that RLCs are reducing intersection traffic accidents, which means lives and property damages. Intersection collisions take lives and cause property damage losses in the billions of dollars. Preventing injuries and deaths at intersections must be high on the priority list for municipalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nearly 9,200 people died and approximately one million people were injured in intersection-related crashes which account for approximately 40-45 percent of all crashes in 2005.

Witness some interesting information from the Arizona Department of Public Safety. In February 2009 Arizona initiated a statewide program of RLC enforcement and have released the results of that program on October 28, 2009.

According to a press release from the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), statewide photo enforcement has resulted in fewer collisions and given officers the opportunity to arrest more impaired drivers per an evaluation of data from the first nine months of the program.

Statewide Statistics

• 17.6% (2,940) fewer property damage collisions

• 18.5% (1,189) fewer injury collisions

• 19.2% (43) fewer fatal collisions (24 fewer lives lost)

Statewide DPS Officer Statistics

• Spent 9,224 less hours investigating 4,891 fewer collisions

• Conducted 52,791 more traffic stops

• Made 610 more total arrests

• Arrested 52 more impaired drivers

• Arrested 324 more drug offenders

You’ve got to admit that these are impressive statistics. Freeing officers from issuing tickets frees them to enforce other potentially more dangerous crimes and further protect the public.

If you or a loved one are involved in a Nashville intersection automobile collision contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates where you can get a free consultation so that you can make the best decisions for you and your family.

Red Light Runners Watch Out

According to an article in the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, as of this past Tuesday night the city of Millington has become the latest Tennessee city to approve using Red Light Cameras (RLC) to help reduce intersection accidents.

Intersection and intersection-related crashes consistently make up a high proportion of total fatal crashes, up to 23 percent. More than 50 percent of the combined fatal and injury crashes occur at intersections. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2005 alone, nearly 9,200 people died and approximately one million people were injured in intersection-related crashes which account for approximately 40-45 percent of all crashes. According to 2005 data from NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, crashes caused by red light running (RLR) resulted in an estimated 805 fatalities.

Based on national data, the typical red light runner (RLR) is younger, is driving alone, has no children, and is in a rush to work or school in the morning hours on weekdays.  If a parent, the RLR most likely has children less than 20-years-old, is employed in jobs requiring less education (i.e., blue collar, lower technology), or is unemployed. The RLR is more than two miles from home and is more likely to have been ticketed for red light running in the past. RLR is a dangerous form of aggressive driving. Based on self-reported behavioral surveys, RLR is a result of people wanting to save time. However, several factors can lead to RLR such as impatient and inattentive drivers, improperly timed traffic signals, lack of enforcement efforts and the attitude that no harm will come from running a red light.

Additional Program Efforts

In addition to the RLCs the city should also hold press conferences to announce the RLC program and educate drivers on the statistics of injuries and deaths due to RLR and speeding. Accompanying the public announcement they should encourage radio and TV stations to warn people of the danger of RLR and educate them on the new RLC system. Radio stations can do live broadcasts from high-crash intersections in town. Stations can give away promotional items in support of the goal of reducing injuries and deaths at intersections. Strict and effective enforcement by local police at all intersections would also help solve this problem.

Pedestrian safety is also an important issue related to intersection crashes. Approximately one out of five accidents at signalized intersections involve a turning vehicle hitting a pedestrian. The split between left-turning and right-turning accidents is about 60/40.  Furthermore, the proportion of accidents involving pedestrians and left-turning vehicles varies from 17 to 32 percent of all pedestrian accidents at the intersection. Thus, left-turning movements at signalized intersections represent a considerable safety problem to pedestrians.

In Millington there was one dissenting Alderman who says he is not convinced that the data shows that the cameras are effective. Economic analysis showed that RLCs saved society $39,000 to $50,000 annually at each intersection where they are installed. (The costs considered include: hospital bills, property damage to vehicles, insurance expenses, value of lost quality of life, and other costs.) Analysis of data in the most comprehensive study to date (Safety Evaluation of Red-Light Cameras (FHWA-HRT-05-048, April 2005)) from seven jurisdictions (Baltimore; Charlotte; El Cajon, CA; Howard County, MD; Montgomery County, MD; San Diego; San Francisco) at 132 intersections using RLCs found:

* 25% decrease of total right-angle crashes

* 16% decrease of injury right-angle crashes

* 15% increase of total rear-end crashes

* 24% increase of injury rear-end crashes

If you or a loved one is injured in a Nashville intersection collision contact our experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies. We offer a free consultation to victims of Tennessee automobile accidents as well as the families of the victims.