DOT: Fewer drivers run red lights when cameras are watching

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Fewer drivers run red lights at intersections when automatic cameras stand poised to snap photos of their license plates, the government reports.<br><br>Using a camera enforcement program

Wednesday, January 12th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Fewer drivers run red lights at intersections when automatic cameras stand poised to snap photos of their license plates, the government reports.

Using a camera enforcement program should reduce red-light running between 20 and 60 percent, the Federal Highway Administration said in a report presented at a conference Tuesday.

"We believe that technology is key to making our highways safer," said Virginia Miller, spokeswoman for the highway administration.

The report comes at a time when crashes are on the rise, with the number of fatal intersection collisions increasing by 16
percent between 1992 and 1998. All other types of crashes have increased only 5 percent.

There wasn't enough data on the relatively new technology to show if cameras also reduced the number of intersection crashes,
the report said.

Drivers who ran red lights caused 89,000 crashes in 1998, inflicting 82,000 injuries and causing nearly 1,000 deaths, according to the Transportation Department. In 1997, more than 1.8 million intersection crashes occurred -- including those caused by red-light running -- resulting in more than 1.2 million injuries and
more than 7,800 deaths.

"You see more violations in rush hours when people are in a hurry," said David M. Smith, a highway administration transportation specialist.

The new report presents the preliminary results of red-light camera programs in three areas: Los Angeles County, Polk County,
Fla., and Howard Country, Md. All three received federal grants to test the technology.

In California, the cameras were used at crossings for a light rail line running between Los Angeles and Long Beach. Between 1990
and 1997, there were 353 crashes between trains and cars, resulting
in 33 deaths.

At the initial three crossings using cameras the number of drivers running red lights dropped 92 percent, 78 percent and 34 percent, respectively, the report said. Warning signs alerted drivers to the presence of the cameras.

Based on the positive results, the county transit authority decided to install the cameras at 17 rail crossings.

Cameras in most states take photos from the rear of the intersection, so the driver can't be seen, but the California program also used a picture of the driver's face for identification.

Maryland's highly reflective license plates often hindered the camera's effectiveness by creating too much glare for clear photos, but the test program did reduce the overall number of red light violations at selected intersections by 23 percent.

While not receiving federal funds, a New York City program started in 1993 resulted in a 38 percent decrease in violations at 18 monitored intersections, the report said.