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April
2005 |
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Getting 'Friendly With Speeders Bike The Drive Expands Minds, Shrinks Waists Caught Red-Handed! Cameras Cut Down Violations Profile: Bike Shop Owners Treat All Bikes Equally Cycling Sisters Seek the Wheel Truth New Events Staff Has Big Plans |
Caught Red-Handed: Cameras Cut Down Violations Though relatively new, Chicago's red-light camera enforcement program is proving effective at reducing the dangerous driving behavior of red-light running. Chicago has seen a 30 percent overall drop in red-light violations at intersections equipped with cameras. That's 30 percent fewer potential crashes and injuries.
In November 2003, the Chicago Department of Transportation started this important traffic safety initiative with 10 intersections identified in a study of crash data that CDOT conducted with Chicago Police. Particular attention was paid to so-called "right-angle" crashes-those most often associated with a motorist running a red light. Another 10 intersections were targeted in 2004; and the city is currently researching a next set of 10 intersections, which will be installed this year. Nearly everyone who has used a city street-crossing as a pedestrian, riding a bike or driving a car-has seen a driver run a red light. The consequences of that dangerous driving behavior are very serious. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, each year nationally more than 800 people are killed and more than 260,000 injured in crashes that involve red light running. Additionally, from 1992 to 1998, nearly 6,000 fatalities occurred as a result of such crashes. About half those deaths were pedestrians and occupants of other vehicles hit by red light violators. Red-light enforcement cameras have a proven track record as an engineering tool to reduce red-light violations and the accidents and injuries they cause. The cameras have been used in European cities for many years, and in U.S. cities for more than a decade. Chicago's red-light camera enforcement system uses digital cameras tied into the traffic signal system and sensors beneath the pavement. When the light turns red, the system is ready. When triggered by a vehicle passing over the sensors above a minimum speed, the cameras take still and video pictures of the rear of a vehicle, including the license plate. The cameras shoot three pictures. The first shows the vehicle just about to run the red light. The second, taken 1.2 seconds later, shows the vehicle continuing through the intersection, running the red light. A third picture shows a close-up view of the license plate. After a city operator reviews and verifies the violation,
the city then issues a ticket, which carries a $90 fine,
to the
registered owner of the vehicle.
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