Community Corner

Red Light Cameras Should Be Removed, Senator Says

Citing a recently published study, state representative says the state's red light camera program should be shut down immediately.

One state representative is of the opinion that the state’s red light camera program has failed and that the cameras should be ‘removed immediately.”

Republican Senator Michael Doherty (D-23) wrote in an editorial this week that the cameras lead to more accidents, more injuries, and are too expensive.

Doherty references a new report published by the state Department of Transportation.

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Wayne is the one of the municipalities that has a red light camera. The camera is at the intersection of Black Oak Ridge Road and Hamburg Turnpike.

The camera from moving violations at the intersection in its first year of operation. The camera was installed last April.

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Doherty said the report shows that the number of right-angle crashes at the 24 intersections that have had red light cameras operational for at least a year has decreased by 15 percent, the severity of those accidents that did occur increased. This has lead to an increase in injuries and costs, nearly $445,000, Doherty said in the editorial.

Doherty also said that the number of rear-end collisions at the intersections increased by 20 percent after the cameras were installed. This, Doherty said, resulted in more injures and more than $720,000 in increased costs.

According to one study, the camera could save the town and taxpayers $1.1 million until 2015, an average annual savings of $231,000. American Traffic Solutions, the company that operates the cameras, commissioned the study.

To read the entire editorial, click here

— Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.


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