Red Light Cams
March 20, 2008
KINGSTON POLICE ARE STILL PURSUING A PLAN TO INSTALL RED LIGHT CAMERAS AT BUSY INTERSECTIONS. THIS, DESPITE A NEW STUDY WHICH SHOWS THAT WHILE THE CAMERAS DO SAVE LIVES, THEY ALSO LEAD TO MORE MINOR COLLISIONS. RESEARCHERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA SAY MORE FENDER-BENDERS OCCUR AT RED LIGHT CAMERA INTERSECTIONS -- AS DRIVERS SLAM ON THEIR BREAKS TO AVOID TICKETS. THE "TINY CAMERAS" OVER BUSY INTERSECTIONS CATCH MOTORISTS RUNNING RED LIGHTS. THE FINDINGS, PARTLY BASED ON PILOT PROJECTS IN ONTARIO, SHOW WHILE THE NUMBER OF INJURIES AND DEATHS HAVE DROPPED SEVEN PERCENT AT INTERSECTIONS WITH CAMERAS, PROPERTY DAMAGE COLLISIONS ARE UP 18 PERCENT. KINGSTON POLICE SAY THE DROP IN DEATHS AND INJURIES IS REASON ENOUGH REASON TO ADOPT THE PROGRAM. BRIAN COOKMAN, KINGSTON POLICE: " ALL THAT MEANS IS THAT PEOPLE PRIOR TO THE INSTALLATION OF THAT CAMERA WERE ACTUALLY ENTERING THE INTERSECTIONS LATE OR TRYING TO BEAT A STALE YELLOW OR RED LIGHT. SO PEOPLE JUST HAVE TO BECOME MORE COGNOSCENTE OF THEIR DRIVING AND REALLY IN THE ESSENCE THAT'S WHAT THE PROGRAM IS ABOUT.')
