The use of red light cameras is now more effective, thanks to Governor Pat Quinn's signature on Friday.
A new law allows the continued use of red light cameras in the Chicago and St. Louis metropolitan areas. Cameras are triggered only when a car enters the intersection illegally and anyone who is ticketed is allowed to review the footage online.
"Red light cameras are a traffic safety measure that effectively reduces the number of crashes in our communities." said Melody Geraci, interim executive director of the Active Transportation Alliance. "This law will make red light cameras more effective tools in making our roadways safer for even the most vulnerable roadway users - children, seniors, bicyclists, pedestrians and the disabled."
A person is injured in a red light-running crash every two seconds in the United States. That results in 165,000 injuries and 800 deaths per year, according to a 2009 report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Red light cameras are proven to effectively reduce speeding and the number of crashes. The City of Naperville, for example, showed a 33% reduction in injury crashes, 75% reduction in angle/turning crashes, 19% reduction in total crashes and an 8% reduction in rear-end crashes (6 months of data compared with 3-year previous average) as a result of red light camera technology.
The Active Transportation Alliance was heavily involved in the dialogue around red light cameras. Active Trans is Chicagoland's voice for better biking, walking and transit. One of the organization's goals is to reduce crashes in the Chicagoland area by 50%.
The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that works to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. The organization builds a movement around active transportation, encourages physical activity, increases safety and builds a world-class transportation network. Formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the Active Transportation Alliance is North America's largest transportation advocacy organization, supported by more than 6,000 members, 1,000 volunteers and 35 full-time staff. For more information on the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325.
