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Red light cameras do not make driving safer, according to a new study

The study was commissioned by the "Chicago Tribune."

By Thor Benson
Red light camera. Photo by Derek Jensen/Wikimedia.
Red light camera. Photo by Derek Jensen/Wikimedia.

CHICAGO, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- According to a new study out of Chicago, red light cameras do not make driving safer and actually cause more rear-end accidents.

The study found there was a 15 percent reduction in cars crashing at a right angle, but rear-end crashes increased 22 percent in the presence of red light cameras, meaning there was an overall 5 percent increase in crashes.

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It would appear that red light cameras cause cars to enter intersections after a red light less often, but drivers are more likely to slam on their brakes to avoid entering the intersection, which can cause an accident. Chicago has the most red light cameras of any U.S. city, and this is the first time such a comprehensive study has been done of the program.

Chicago mayor Rahm Emmanuel is currently trying to make it so every traffic light in Chicago will have a camera.

Red light camera tickets are not enforced in every city that has them, including certain districts in Los Angeles. The argument is that red light camera tickets are mailed out, instead of having an officer have someone sign the ticket on the spot, so there is no way to know who received their ticket.

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The Chicago study was commissioned by the Chicago Tribune.

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