Last month, by a vote of 8-2, the Worcester City Council permitted the city manager to file special legislation to would allow “red-light” cameras to be installed at some Worcester intersections. If the legislation is approved, the cameras will take photographs of the offending vehicle’s license plate when they run a red light, and after examining the photos, police will issue tickets through the mail.
Improve Safety?
Supporters of the red-light cameras believe they are needed to improve safety at controlled intersections. In particular, they argue that if the red-light cameras decrease the number of drivers running red lights, the number of t-bone accidents will invariably decrease.
However, opponents argue the cameras are simply a new revenue stream for the city. Moreover, opponents dispute whether or not cameras actually reduce accidents at controlled intersections. They claim the cameras actually increase the likelihood of accidents because drivers slam on their brakes in order to avoid being ticketed, thus increasing rear-end collisions.
Opponents have also proposed longer yellow lights as an alternative to red-light cameras to improve safety. In fact, a 2004 Texas Transportation Institute study revealed that a one second increase in the yellow light resulted in a 40 percent drop in accidents.
Regardless of whether or not red-light cameras actually improve safety, read-end collisions and t-bone accidents can be devastating and life-altering. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of an auto accident, contact an experience personal injury attorney in your area to be advised of your rights and options.
