About.com blogger Charles Montaldo has compiled some statistics and information that once again demonstrate the questionable effectiveness of red light cameras. His research demonstrates that red light cameras have a negligible effect on red light running, but instead increase minor vehicle accidents caused by hard braking in advance of the automatically enforced intersection. He also points out that the IIHS, the Insurance Industry’s research arm, is the leading source of statistics that support the use of red light cameras, and that red light cameras amount to nothing more than a push from the industry to trap drivers in higher premiums through increased crash and citation data.

Drivers New Jersey are used to being the butt of innumerable jokes on topics ranging from their often colorful hand gestures to their overcrowded, nightmarishly confusing Turnpike. New Jersey drivers recently lowered the bar once again by demonstrating an incredibly schizophrenic view of vehicle & traffic law enforcement.  According to the Press of Atlantic City, a AAA-sponsored poll revealed “[New Jersey drivers] support a new state law making it a primary offense to use cell phones while driving, even though they don’t believe it will make it safer to drive on New Jersey roads.” There are also some views on traffic cameras and snow/ice removal that were captured in the AAA study.

The National Motorists Association and STOPandGO.org both agree: red light cameras are a detriment to safety and exist for purely political reasons.   The NMA has taken the time to compile a list of five major studies that revealed traffic cameras actually increase, and not decrease, the number of accidents at intersections.   This is an excellent resource for anyone researching traffic cameras.

According to Wired magazine, not everyone in Britain loves the surveillance state. One British anti-camera groups claims its up-and-coming methods “will enable them to destroy a roadside camera in just a few seconds,” and illustrates with a burned-out camera. I wonder how many Americans are similarly motivated.

British Drivers Destroying Traffic Surveillance Cameras