Studies Repeatedly Show Traffic Cameras Save Lives

Traffic cameras are extremely divisive, with critics calling them a cash grab or raising equity concerns. However, Alan Ehrenhalt notes in Governing, the evidence shows that speed and red-light cameras save lives.

“When you reduce the number of police traffic stops for speeding or red-light running, the number of accidents goes up. When you install cameras to catch the offenders, the number goes down,” Ehrenhalt explains. “One recent study estimated that traffic cameras along one particularly dangerous roadway in Philadelphia prevented as many as 20 crashes per month and up to 1.4 monthly deaths.” Speeding infractions on that roa dropped by 90 percent after the cameras were installed. Other studies show similarly encouraging results.

According to the article, 22 states and Washington, D.C. have red-light cameras, and 24 use them to catch speeding violations. On the other end of the spectrum, 10 states ban traffic cameras altogether.

Ultimately, Ehrenhalt concludes, “when you add it all up, saving lives is more important than traffic tickets.” While traffic cameras may sometimes issue tickets drivers find unfair, their benefits in increased road safety far outweigh that cost.