RED-LIGHT CAMERAS
Red-light cameras are very controversial. If you're not familiar with them, they are cameras mounted at the corners of certain intersections to photograph vehicles running red lights. The cameras are electronically triggered when a vehicle enters the intersection after the light has turned red. The local police department then mails the offending driver a ticket with the photo of his car running the red light. Find the red light cameras in your Texas city here.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 20% of drivers involved in fatal crashes in 1999 and 2000 had run red lights. The IIHS also contends that use of red-light cameras reduce the number incidents of red-light violations. There are known ways to decrease red-light violations, such as increasing the length of the yellow-light sequence. A longer yellow-light gives drivers more opportunity to stop.
An injury lawyer handling a car wreck case in which one driver is alleged to have run a red-light, may wish to submit ran open records request to the city for data about that red-light camera and the light sequencing data to verify the length of the yellow light sequence is at least 4 seconds--especially if there is a re-light camera at the intersection. There may be a potential cause of action against the city if the yellow light is less that 4 seconds. The cause of action would be further supported by evidence that the yellow light was shortened after installation of a red-light camera.
In Houston, critics are alleging HPD misrepresented the results of a study suggesting red-light cameras may actually increase in the number of crashes. A recent investigation uncovered the fact the city of San Diego actually shortened the yellow-light sequence in order to increase red-light violations. When the Arizona cities of Phoenix and Mesa increased the length of the yellow light sequence at certain intersections, the number of violations decreased. That caused a major upset with the red-light camera vendor, Lockheed-Martin, which gets a portion of the fine paid by violators. It turns out Lockheed-Martin is paid up to $73 per ticket! See the news story below.
