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Commentary: Hidden in Red-Light Camera Report — 18 Lives Saved
Herald-Tribune (Florida), Feb. 12, 2014

Monday’s report from the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability shared great news that red-light safety cameras in Florida have dramatically reduced fatal and injury collisions. Frankly, I’m surprised and disappointed that such an important fact was buried so deeply in the report. The simple fact of the matter is that red-light running kills, permanently affecting families and communities. (WPTV-TV NBC 5/Palm Beach Post image)

 

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Editorial: Don’t Let Brandes Kill Lifesaving Program
The Tampa Tribune (Florida), Feb. 13, 2014

A number of thoughtful recommendations about how to improve the state’s red-light camera program are included in a government report issued this week. The recommendations should be considered by state and local jurisdictions looking for ways to improve the program, which is greatly reducing the number of fatal crashes attributed to red-light running. What lawmakers should ignore is a bill by state Sen. Jeff Brandes to kill the program altogether. (The Tampa Tribune photo by Cliff McBride)

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City of Phoenix Combats Red-Light Running
KTVK-TV Channel 3 (Arizona), Feb. 11, 2014

A man driving a Suburban ran a red light and slammed into a car in Phoenix Tuesday morning. Police believe speed and impairment were factors in the collision. The city of Phoenix said that intersection isn’t the only one with red-light running issues, and the accident serves as a reminder of how dangerous it is to run a red light.

Red-Light Cameras Improve Traffic Safety in Milton
WEAR-TV ABC 3 (Florida), Feb. 10, 2014

A new report shows deadly crashes went down about 49 percent at intersections with red-light cameras, even though the total number of crashes actually went up. … But the mayor of Milton says, these cameras are doing exactly what they’re supposed to do, and that is, to improve safety.

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Police Chief Comments on St. Louis’ Appeal to Supreme Court
KMOX-Radio 1120AM (Missouri), Feb. 13, 2014

St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson says he’s glad the city is taking its red-light camera fight to the State Supreme Court. … Dotson says for him, it all comes back to running lights. He says it’s illegal to run them no matter who catches you whether it’s a live person or a camera.

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Philadelphia to Receive $5 Million in Camera Fines for Street Safety
PlanPhilly (Pennsylvania), Feb. 11, 2014

Philadelphia is slated to receive nearly $5 million thanks to the most recent round of Automated Red Light Enforcement (ARLE) Funding Program grants. Since 2010, the program has awarded $33.3 million to 234 safety projects statewide. The ARLE program distributes funds generated by automated red light cameras, which issue tickets for traffic violations such as running red lights.

Florida Report Finds Cameras Reduce Traffic Injuries, Fatalities
Tampa Bay Business Journal (Florida), Feb. 10, 2014

The National Coalition for Safer Roads is encouraged by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability’s report on red-light safety cameras, noting that traffic deaths and injuries have decreased dramatically since cameras were installed throughout the state.

 

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ATS: Florida Report Affirms Cameras’ Influence on Safety
Cision News Wire, Feb. 10, 2014

American Traffic Solutions is gratified that the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability report affirms that red-light safety cameras reduce fatalities and injuries at Florida intersections where they are deployed.

Red-Light Violations Top 19,800 in Haines City
News Chief/Ledger Media Group (Florida), Feb. 10, 2014

The past year has brought red-light violations to thousands of mailboxes in Haines City. While it may be frustrating for some, studies show a reduction in accidents statewide, city officials said.

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Authorities Issue 331 Red-Light Running Citations in 1 Week
Palm Coast Observer (Florida), Feb. 10, 2014

Palm Coast’s Red-Light Safety Camera Program captured 2,621 violations, and authorities issued 331 citations during the week of Jan. 20-26.

Red-Light Cameras Hailed for Safety
Statesman Journal (Oregon), Feb. 8, 2014

The use of red-light camera pictures to catch car thieves is new in Oregon. But a couple weeks ago a picture of two people in the front of a dark-colored Honda Accord driving through the intersection on a red light caught the attention of Salem police because it had been reported stolen in northeast Salem the day before.

Red-Light Cameras Keep Green Light in Virginia
Fairfax City Patch, Feb. 8, 2014

Red-light cameras will remain legal in Virginia for at least another year, as the House Transportation Committee defeated a bill this past week that would have forced the discontinuation of such photo-monitoring systems. Virginia police from several localities attended this past week’s meeting to lobby in favor of keeping the cameras, citing safety as the number one concern. Localities that have implemented the systems have reported decreases in red-light violations as high as 33 percent and 40 percent.

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Memorial, Cry for Student Safety Follow Fatality
The New Orleans Advocate (Louisiana), Feb. 12, 2014

In the days since a vehicle struck and killed 6-year-old Shaud Wilson on his way to his school bus stop, the crash has sparked a broader discussion about the safety of children like Shaud who must navigate poorly marked, busy thoroughfares every day on their way to and from their school bus stop. See related school and city council articles in The Times-Picayune. (NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune photo by Julia Kumari Drapkin)

 

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Cameras Credited for Decline in Speeding, Crashes
Washingtonian (District of Columbia), Feb. 11, 2014

A study released Monday by the District Department of Transportation finds that since the DC government started deploying traffic cameras across town, drivers are crashing less often and hurting fewer people. See related article in Washington City Paper and ITS International.

 

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Texas District OKs School-Bus Safety Camera Agreement with ATS
Sys-Con Media,  Feb. 12, 2014

The Georgetown Independent School District Board Board has approved an agreement with American Traffic Solutions (ATS) to bring school bus stop arm cameras to Georgetown school buses. The school district and the Georgetown Police Department will partner with ATS, the leading photo enforcement provider in North America, to deploy CrossingGuard, ATS’ solution to help the school district address the growing problem of illegal passing of school buses.

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American Traffic Solutions is pleased to announce its recent agreement renewals with the Tennessee city of Murfreesboro and the Maryland cities of Landover Hills and Westminster. All three clients renewed their road safety camera agreements for another year. ATS is honored to be a part of the traffic safety efforts in these communities.

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ATS_RoadSafety @ATS_RoadSafety Reasons to Support the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act #Florida Fact 5: tmblr.co/ZC9Wt175Rw4w #StopOnRed

DEHigwaySafe @DeHighwaySafe  Delaware in top 10! @ATS_RoadSafety: Where does your state rank? The Best & Worst States for #TrafficSafety Laws: http://m.autos.aol.com/article/the-best-and-worst-states-for-traffic-safety-laws/ …

ATS_RoadSafety @ATS_RoadSafety Georgetown Independent School District Looks to Put a Stop to School Bus Stop Arm Running: http://tmblr.co/ZC9-Wt17CECgo

 

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Editorial: Despite Problems, Cameras Save Lives
Sun Sentinel (Florida), Feb. 12, 2014

The state’s newest red-light camera study gives ammunition to people on both sides of the debate. But for those who see the value in the cameras, the same study shows fatal crashes have decreased at red-light camera intersections. Keeping red-light cameras is the much more compelling argument. They have made drivers think twice before running a red light.

Editorial: Road Safety Cameras Serve their Purpose
Sierra Vista Herald (Arizona), Feb. 9, 2014

Understanding that there is a contingent of the audience who detest and contest the effectiveness of road safety camera systems in Sierra Vista, we note with interest the start up of the fourth local intersection to be monitored.  Statistics gathered during the past year show that there will be thousands of you caught on camera.

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Letter to the Editor: Red-Light Cameras Aid Safety
The Star-Ledger (New Jersey), Feb. 12, 2014

Guess the teenagers driving down the Shore this summer won’t have to be concerned about red lights in Brick Township. The town’s mayor is doing away with red-light cameras. Another safety measure gone by the wayside — and why? Because people don’t want to be punished for their violations.

Letter to the Editor: Afraid of Cameras? Then Don’t Break the Law
Iowa City Press-Citizen (Iowa), Feb. 12, 2014

I think my attorney, if I had complaints about traffic violation cameras, would counsel me to avoid breaking the law: To not violate the speed limits and not to run red lights. There are penalties for scofflaws, and rightfully so.

Letter to the Editor: Give Cameras the Green Light
Centre Daily Times (Pennsylvania), Feb. 11, 2014

The only “traffic calming” (give me a break with the nomenclature) that works is fines. You’ve got to hit people in the wallet to get their attention. The police can’t be around long enough to issue enough tickets. We need cameras!

 

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“Having children dash across streets early in the morning and not having crossing guards — and not even having designated pickup spots for them — is not the safe way to do it, and I do think it falls upon the authorities that are governing this to come up with a solution.”
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell, New Orleans City Councilwoman
The New Orleans Advocate (Louisiana), Feb. 12, 2014

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“The reality is it changes people’s driving behavior. While there is a factor of people not wanting to get ticketed, most people who are ticketed don’t re-offend, and I think it’s apparent that they are more conscious on the roadways.”
Richard Sloan, Chief of Police, Haines City
News Chief/Ledger Media Group (Florida), Feb. 10, 2014

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District of Columbia
In its recent report comparing crash data at locations for three years before the installation of speed safety cameras and three years with speed cameras in operation, the District Department of Transportation found total crashes decreased from 2,240 to 1,863, injuries related to crashes decreased from 841 to 673, and the number of injuries at the locations similarly dropped around 20 percent, from 1,251 prior to installation to 996 after. Source: Washington City Paper, Feb. 10, 2014.

Oregon
The city of Salem, in its February 2013 report on red light traffic statistics, reported an overall 33 percent reduction of traffic collisions and a 13 percent decrease in violations since its red-light camera program began in March 2008. Source: Statesman Journal, Feb. 8, 2014.