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Louis Harris Poll Reaffirms Public Support for Red Light Cameras

13 May 1998

New Louis Harris Poll Reaffirms Public Support For State Use of Red Light Running Cameras

    SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 13 -- Americans are fed up with
motorists who run red lights and want states to take tougher action to catch
red light runners according to a recent Louis Harris public opinion poll.
    "The time for the use of red light running cameras has come to America,
make no mistake about it," said Louis Harris, President of Harris Polling who
conducted the poll for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates).  "A
decisive 65% to 30% majority want their state legislatures to authorize the
use of cameras at intersections to take a picture of the license plate of
every car that runs a red light."
    This photographic technology is now providing communities across the U.S.
a reliable means to enforce traffic signal violations.  A camera connected to
a traffic signal is activated when a vehicle triggers a sensor buried at a
crosswalk or stop line after a pre-set time.  Two photos are taken and
information such as date, time and vehicle speed are recorded.  Each photo is
then subject to an analysis to verify information and tickets are then sent.
    "Red-light running is one of the most frequent traffic offenses occurring
as often as once every five minutes," said Judith Lee Stone, President of
Advocates.  "Red light running camera enforcement is a proven countermeasure
to help reduce violations and intersection crashes."
    In fact, preliminary crash data from localities employing red light
running cameras already indicates their effectiveness.  Victoria, Australia,
experienced a 32% reduction in intersection crashes in just the first six
months after camera installation, and Los Angeles, Calif., found that red
light running camera use at railroad grade crossings reduced crashes by 42% in
the first six months.
    California is a popular place for red light running.  According to a new
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study that looked at 78 cities with
populations of over 200,000, four California cities, including Fresno, the
city of Los Angeles, Anaheim and Sacramento, rank in the top 20 when it comes
to fatal red light running crashes per 100,000 population.  The average of the
78 cities was 2.5 fatal red light running crashes per 100,000 people.
Fresno's average was almost double the national average at 4.9, Los Angeles
and Anaheim were at 3.9 and Sacramento at 3.7.
    Legislation regarding state use of red light running cameras is currently
being considered in the California General Assembly.
    Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety is an alliance of consumer, safety,
law enforcement, public health and insurance organizations working to reduce
deaths and injuries on our nation's highways.  For more information on
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, please visit its World Wide Web site at
http://www.saferoads.org.

SOURCE  Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety