Red Light Cameras Help Reduce Accidents
Posted: 11:00 am EST November 17, 2008
APOPKA, Fla. -- Eyewitness News has proof that intersections across Orange County are safer because of red light cameras. In August of 2007, 262 red light runners were caught when the cameras were first installed in Apopka and that number dropped to 35 last month.
Also, accident reports show a 72 percent drop in crashes at Sheeler Avenue and 441, along with a 64 percent drop at Park Avenue.
Police said it frees up officers to focus on crime
"By not having the officers, sometimes five to six running a detail in the afternoon we have our officers out patrolling neighborhoods and business trying to fight crime," said Steven Popp of the Apopka Police Department.
Apopka was the first Central Florida city to install red light cameras and leaders were thinking of installing more. Violators were sent a $125 citation and part of the money goes to operating the cameras.
I'm a reasonable person. If there is empirical evidence that red light cameras do not work, or increase accidents then by all means, remove them. However there is a lot of conflicting information out there about it.