Smile, You've Been Rear-Ended

"...Mayor Bill White argued that the cameras' presence prevented even more collisions and that the study proves the monitoring program is keeping drivers safe.

Critics of the initiative, which mails $75 civil fines to drivers photographed running red lights at 50 intersections, said the study shows that cameras actually cause more crashes and bolsters their argument that the program is more about generating revenue than protecting the public.

White and the study's authors, who recommend installing additional cameras at some intersections for further research, said they based their conclusion on their belief that Houston has experienced a major uptick in collisions in recent years. They acknowledged, however, that comprehensive citywide vehicle crash data is not available."