A red light camera in Calgary.Chris Bolin
Red light cameras, installed in many jurisdiction across the country to reduce death and injury caused by people running through intersections after the light has changed, are controversial to say the least.
There is ample proof to show they are effective in that stated purpose - reducing death and serious injury - but there is also some indication they may lead to increased number of minor collisions by causing motorists to follow the law: stop on a red.
Ironically, slowing on a stale yellow and stopping on a red is such a foreign concept for some motorists they are running into the rear of vehicles that have done so. This would indicate they are following too closely or not paying attention to the traffic scene ahead. Many safety experts are of the opinion the incidence of rear-end collisions "caused" by red lights will diminish once motorists become used to the concept of obeying the law.
A public opinion survey conducted by the Ottawa-based Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) as part of an ongoing research project in the Winnipeg Census Metropolitan Area shows a clear majority of the residents of that city strongly support red light photo enforcement. The survey polled Winnipeggers on various aspects of road safety, including speeding, running red lights and drinking and driving.
"The levels of public concern about road safety in general and the specific road safety issues that are the focus of this particular study are in line with levels of public concern coming from other independent sources," says Ward Vanlaar, lead researcher and vice-president, research, at TIRF.
The F study found that 54 per cent of Winnipeg residents were "very" or "extremely" concerned about road safety. While drinking and driving was the leading cause of concern (89 per cent), red light running was not far behind (78 per cent) with speeding coming in at 60 per cent.
TIRF says support for red light cameras is high with 81 per cent of Winnipeg residents supporting their continued use, 80 per cent believing the program raises awareness of the dangers involved and 71 per cent saying it results in improved road safety in that city. The survey found that a surprising 74 per cent of individuals who have been ticketed for speeding in Winnipeg support the red light camera program.
In this week's What Car? feature, a reader wants to buy the three-door Mazda2 hatchback which is currently sold in Europe. Can she buy one in Canada?
The program has certainly created a new-found level of awareness. TIRF says 95 per cent of respondents knew about the program.
Vanlaar says these results and studies completed in Ontario, California, Virginia, British Columbia, Arizona, Singapore and Australia provide ample evidence that red light cameras have an overall positive effect.
"Many of the studies we reviewed found significant decreases in average speed, speeding violations, red light running violations, speeding collisions and right-angle crashes, with some studies finding minor increases in rear-end crashes, which are often much less severe than right-angle crashes," he said.
TIRF is a national, independent, charitable road safety institute established in 1964 whose mission is to reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries. It designs programs and policies, based on research. A total of 750 drivers from the Winnipeg CMA completed this survey in May, 2009.
Another study in the news recently, conducted by researchers at the University of Florida's College of Public Health, says there is a downside to red light cameras. It admits lives are saved but says the program results in an increased number of rear-end collisions as drivers try to avoid a ticket.
This study, based on statistics from the Toronto program, says fatal injuries fell 18.2 per cent while collisions resulting in property damage claims rose 4 per cent. The research also includes data from five other Ontario communities as well as programs in North Carolina and Virginia. The claim that red light cameras make intersections more dangerous rather than safer has created a rift within the University of Florida itself. The director of the university's Center for Urban Transportation Research says red light cameras are an effective way to reduce crashes.
While the debate continues among academics and motorists, the facts do seem to indicate the program is savings lives, if not insurance claims.
Halifax-based Richard Russell runs a driving school.
Searching for a new vehicle? Our Globe Drive car search makes it easy to track down the best vehicle for you
globedrive@globeandmail.com