Florida’s Highway Safety Report Finds Crashes Continue to Decrease at Red-Light Safety Camera Intersections
Only 5% of drivers receiving a red-light violation are issued a second
Tallahassee, FL -- For the second consecutive year, red-light cameras are reducing dangerous intersection crashes in a majority of cities and towns in Florida using red-light safety cameras, according to a new study released by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Nearly 59% of the agencies responding to the agency’s survey reported a decrease in total crashes. Similarly, 61% of the 44 agencies that track side-impact crashes reported a decrease in collisions while 43% reported a decrease in rear end crashes. According to the report, while Florida jurisdictions using red-light safety cameras have seen a decrease in red-light running related collisions, collisions at intersections statewide have typically increased.
Most notably, the report pegged the state’s “non- recidivism rate” at 95% meaning only 5% of drivers receiving a violation were issued a second. These results indicate red-light safety cameras are operating as designed, which is to reduce the number of right-angle intersection crashes by changing driver behavior through traffic law enforcement.
A separate analysis released in December by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, an office of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, shows red-light running fatalities decreased 27% in Florida, from 83 fatalities in 2011 to 61 in 2012. The 22 lives saved amount to an economic savings to communities of more than $132 million.
“This report confirms what so many already know, in Florida red-light safety cameras are working. Driver behavior is changing and the number collisions and fatalities resulting from red-light running continues to fall,” said American Traffic Solutions, the state’s leading red-light safety camera provider, spokesman Charles Territo.
The annual report is required by state law and used data from the period of July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013. Forty-four police agencies provided year-to-year right-angle crash and rear end crash statistics, with 27 saying angle crashes decreased, 10 reporting no change and 7 reporting an increase. For rear-end crashes: 19 agencies reported a decrease, 11 reported no change and 14 reported an increase. For total crashes 56 agencies responded. 33 reported a decrease, 6 reported no change and 17 reported an increase. Additionally, 88 percent of respondents reported using evidence from the cameras to investigate other crimes.
Pursuant to the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act, a portion of all red-light running fines issued through red-light safety camera programs goes to trauma centers and to research efforts addressing spinal and brain injuries. Thus far, more than $5 million has gone to the Miami Project, which researches new treatments for persons living with spinal and brain injuries, many of which are the result of traffic crashes and more than $16 million to trauma centers throughout the state.
Unfortunately, red-light safety cameras can’t stop all red-light running. Attached is a string of the worst red-light runners across the state from 2013. This compilation is provided with the hope that the crashes will help show just how dangerous red-light running is and just how violent a red-light running collision can be, and to serve as a reminder to drivers to always obey the law and, most importantly, to stop on red. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geDtq0pSSUs
###
About American Traffic Solutions
ATS is proud to be the market leader in road safety camera installations in North America, and in Florida where ATS contracts with than 70 communities. Nationally, ATS has more than 3,250 installed red-light, speed and school bus stop are safety cameras serving more than 30 million people. ATS has contracts in nearly 300 communities in 21 states and Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit: www.atsol.com.
Contact: Charles Territo
Title: Senior Vice President of Public Affairs
and Marketing, Communications
Phone: (480) 443-7000
Email: media@atsol.com
Tags:
