IL - Red Speed cameras may not be so safe, study finds

[StlouisX50]

Red Speed cameras may not be so safe, study finds

Those well-heeled producers of RedSpeed cameras just got a little bad news today from the Chicago Tribune's report today that red light cameras aren't the cure all they're hyped to be. The Illinois legislature votes to permit the expansion of the camera usage, and RedSpeed is a generous campaign donor. When a speed camera is installed, the firm not only is paid for the camera and its installation but they rake in $30 for each $100 fine when drivers are caught running a red light.
While some municipalities say the cameras have produced safer driving, at least one has seen accident stats increase dramatically since the cameras' installation.

Melrose Park installed two cameras on North Avenue in November 2007, and accidents afterward jumped at both. But there may be a more nuanced view to the safety impact of the device installed outside Kiddieland.

Total crashes rose, largely because of a big jump in rear-end collisions -- an effect often seen when drivers suddenly slam on brakes at camera-monitored intersections to avoid tickets. But broadside collisions fell from five in 2006 to one in 2008.

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[lugnuts]

they may have not made roads safer but the mayor of Chicago has been raking in the money.