Red Light cameras failing in Washington DC

[outnumbered]

I saw this newspaper report referenced elsewhere. Making money from cameras instead of improving road safety isn't just a UK problem, it appears.


[i]Del Quentin Wilber and Derek Willis, *The Washington Post*, 4 Oct 2005, A01

The District's red-light cameras have generated more than 500,000 violations and $32 million in fines over the past six years. City officials credit them with making busy roads safer. But a *Post* analysis of crash statistics shows that the number of accidents has gone up at intersections with the cameras. The increase is the same or worse than at traffic signals without
the devices. Three outside traffic specialists independently reviewed the data and said they were surprised by the results. Their conclusion: The
cameras do not appear to be making any difference in preventing injuries or collisions. ... [/i]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/03/AR2005100301844.html

[kevinday]

What it does not make reference to is the severity of accidents. I would prefer to see half a dozen 5-10mph rear-enders than one 40mph T-boning accident.