Compelling Evidence That Red-Light Cameras Do Make Roads Safer

Hundreds of American cities use red-light cameras to police their intersections, but a few major ones have recently had second thoughts about the devices. Last year Houston and Los Angeles turned off their cameras, and earlier this year a New Jersey state senator introduced legislation to ban them throughout the entire state. Sen. Michael Doherty believes the cameras are less about safety than city revenue:

The red-light camera question often turns on the safety question, partly because research on the topic has been inconclusive to date. Some studies have found a solid connection between red-light cameras and a reduction in car crashes; last year the Texas Transportation Institute reported an 11 percent drop. Others, like a 2005 report from the Department of Transportation, have found a potential increase in rear-end collisions.