Red-light cameras installed at some of Houston's most dangerous intersections did not reduce the number of crashes there, according to a long-awaited study the city commissioned on the matter.
In fact, wrecks at intersections with at least one red-light camera more than doubled, the data shows. The analysis examined accident data at intersections that had at least one camera which monitored traffic in one direction of the intersection. Most intersections have cameras facing in only one of the four or more directions at a traffic stop.
Interestingly, the greatest increase in accidents came from the points of the intersection where a camera is not installed. Where there is a camera, the number of collisions remained relatively flat or showed only a slight increase.
Although many involved with the issue at City Hall had hoped the study would be definitive enough to put to rest questions about the controversial program, it appears to have only further inflamed critics. While both sides agree the results are inconclusive and require further study, each took the data to bolster their contentions.
Study authors said the reason for the slight increase at "monitored approaches" is actually that the city has seen a major uptick in collisions during the past year, one that they believe red-light cameras helped mitigate. In other words, the study released Monday concludes that there were far fewer collisions at intersections with red-light cameras than there otherwise would have been if the cameras had not been installed.
"Collisions are going up all over the city," said Bob Stein, a Rice University political science professor and one of report's four authors. "But red-light cameras have held back that increase at approaches where they have been installed."
But they supplied no data other than the examination of the non-monitored directions of the intersections to support the conclusion that accidents have increased. Stein acknowledged that data from the Houston Police Department shows crashes have declined in the city since 2004, although he said the data is problematic because police officers no longer file reports on every wreck. more at source
In fact, wrecks at intersections with at least one red-light camera more than doubled, the data shows. The analysis examined accident data at intersections that had at least one camera which monitored traffic in one direction of the intersection. Most intersections have cameras facing in only one of the four or more directions at a traffic stop.
Interestingly, the greatest increase in accidents came from the points of the intersection where a camera is not installed. Where there is a camera, the number of collisions remained relatively flat or showed only a slight increase.
Although many involved with the issue at City Hall had hoped the study would be definitive enough to put to rest questions about the controversial program, it appears to have only further inflamed critics. While both sides agree the results are inconclusive and require further study, each took the data to bolster their contentions.
Study authors said the reason for the slight increase at "monitored approaches" is actually that the city has seen a major uptick in collisions during the past year, one that they believe red-light cameras helped mitigate. In other words, the study released Monday concludes that there were far fewer collisions at intersections with red-light cameras than there otherwise would have been if the cameras had not been installed.
"Collisions are going up all over the city," said Bob Stein, a Rice University political science professor and one of report's four authors. "But red-light cameras have held back that increase at approaches where they have been installed."
But they supplied no data other than the examination of the non-monitored directions of the intersections to support the conclusion that accidents have increased. Stein acknowledged that data from the Houston Police Department shows crashes have declined in the city since 2004, although he said the data is problematic because police officers no longer file reports on every wreck. more at source
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