Red-light camera debate continues; fewer Chicago car accidents reported
The installation of red light cameras is saving lives according to a recent study by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Chicago is one of 14 cities used in the study to determine if red light cameras decrease the number of Illinois car accidents occurring at intersections.
The recent study shows our Chicago personal injury attorneys that, despite the outrage by Chicago drivers regarding red light cameras, they are helping to minimize tragedies at intersections. The report contends if cameras had been installed in all large cities there would have been 815 lives saved during the last five years.
This based on the fact that 159 lives were saved during this same time period in the cities that utilize red light cameras. The study showed that fatal red light running crashes decreased by 24% from 2004-2008.
The City of Chicago indicates that red light camera enforcement began back in 2003 when the City started a pilot program at two intersections: Peterson and Western, and 55th and Western. These two locations were chosen based on available crash data. By the beginning of 2010, a total of 189 intersections had the red light cameras installed. Chicago drivers can go to the city's website for a full list of red light camera intersections located in Chicago.
According to Chicago Sun Times, there is speculation of how effective the cameras are, with some arguing rear-end collisions and other accidents have resulted in an increase in fatalities at intersections.
City officials find the installation of red light cameras cost effective in the sense that it isn't taking manpower to cite the violation. But Chicago drivers remain outraged by the $100 citations according to a recent article in Medill Reports Chicago.
The article explains that tickets are issued when drivers fully enter an intersection after a light turns red which includes drivers who roll through right turns. Motorists will not be issued a ticket if they enter an intersection before the light turns red, come to a complete stop before making a right turn, or pull ahead of the white line but don’t' fully enter the intersection. Proceeding through an intersection illegally triggers an underground sensor which takes three pictures and records a 12-second video. Last year, 52,511 Chicago drivers contested the red light camera violation that they were cited for.
There were a total of 763,419 red light tickets issued in Chicago last year.
Chicago Breaking News reports red light camera citations have become easier to dispute upon the recent law passed January 1st of this year. The new law offers flexibility to motorists cited for a camera violation. In an effort to stop abuse of red light cameras the new law allows drivers the following:
-There will be more room permitted when creeping up to the edge of an intersection before coming to a complete stop.
-Turning right without stopping is still not permitted but it will no longer be required of drivers to come to a stop at a white line several feet away from the intersection.
-Law enforcement officers or retired officers hired to look at violations must review and approve citations.
-Chicago or Cook County violations must have video reviewed by police officers, retired officers, or fully trained technicians hired for this purpose.
-All ticketed motorists must be given access to the video for viewing on the internet.
If you have been injured in a Chicago car accident, contact the experienced attorneys at VanPopering Law Offices for legal advice. Appointments can be made 24 hours a day by calling 1-800-767-4878. Call today to set up your free and confidential consultation.
