Red light cameras have been banned in South Carolina since 2010. There is a new push for using red light cameras at intersections in Columbia, SC.
What are red light cameras?
The first red light camera program was implemented in New York City in 1992.
Now, “more than 70 communities in 12 States and the District of Columbia are using camera technology to enforce red light running.” (Highways.dot.gov)
Red light cameras “are connected to the traffic signal and to sensors that monitor traffic flow just before the crosswalk or stop line. The system continuously monitors the traffic signal, and the camera captures any vehicle that doesn’t stop during the red phase.” The camera snaps several pictures of each vehicle. It is standard practice for these pictures or videos to be reviewed, and tickets are only issued once there is clear evidence that a vehicle actually ran a red light. (IIHS.org)
Tickets (along with copies of the pictures taken by the red light camera) are usually issued by mail.
Do red light cameras work?
Yes. Studies have shown that red light cameras reduce the number of car crashes at intersections. When drivers know there’s a camera watching, they are more likely to stop at a red light.
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) has completed a series of studies in Oxnard, CA, and Fairfax, VA. These studies found that red light cameras reduce red light violations by about 40%. “In addition to the decrease in red light running at camera-equipped sites, the effect carried over to nearby signalized intersections not equipped with cameras.” (IIHS.org)
Another IIHS study looked at whether red light cameras reduced fatalities at red lights, due to drivers running red lights. This study compared large cities with red light cameras to those without the cameras. It was found that the red light cameras reduced these fatalities by 21%.
Statistics for drivers running red lights
- Over 120,000 people are injured and over 1,000 are killed each year in the US because of red light violations. That is at least two people a day killed because someone plowed through a red light! Half of those deaths were not the drivers/passengers in the cars of the violators. They were “pedestrians, bicyclists and people in OTHER vehicles who were hit by the red light runners.” (IIHS.org)
- In 2023, the SC Department of Public Safety reported over 4,600 accidents due to drivers running red lights in The Palmetto State (South Carolina).
- We are more likely to be injured in a crash due to someone running a red light than any other type of car crash.
- At urban intersections, someone runs a red light about every 20 minutes.
- In the US, around 7 fatalities and over 1,000 injuries happen EVERY DAY in crashes at signalized intersections, with almost 3 deaths per day due to people running red lights. (Highways.dot.gov)
Why do people run red lights?
A national telephone survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety showed that 76% of drivers said it’s extremely dangerous to run a red light if it’s possible to stop safely. But 28% admitted they have run a red light in the past 30 days. (AAAFoundation.org)
But why?
- They’re in a hurry – they may be late for work, school, or an appointment.
- They’re not paying attention – distractions like talking on the phone, or to someone else in the car, or changing the radio station can cause the driver to accidentally run a red light.
- They misjudge the situation – sometimes, drivers think they can make it through the light before it turns red, but they misjudge the timing. This can happen if they’re driving too fast or if the yellow light is shorter than expected.
- The roads are empty – late at night or in areas with less traffic, some drivers might run a red light because they think it’s safe since no one is around. They may feel that stopping at a long light with no other cars in sight is unnecessary.
- They simply ignore the rules – the driver knowingly ignores the traffic signal. They might do this because they believe they won’t get caught, or they don’t think the rules apply to them.
Who statistically runs red lights?
According to IIHS data, red light runners in crashes were more likely “to be male, to be younger, and to have prior crashes or alcohol-impaired driving convictions. They also were more likely to be speeding or alcohol-impaired at the time of the crash and less likely to have a valid driver’s license.” (IIHS.org)
Red light cameras banned in SC – Why?
Red light cameras were banned in 2011 in South Carolina due to privacy issues and because of localities using the cameras to boost revenue generation.
That law, S.C. Code Ann. § 56-7-35(B)(4) states, “…a traffic citation…may not be issued based in whole upon photographic evidence…”
Opponents of traffic cameras say that any intrusion into our lives by the government is always going to be a problem. The pictures taken provide personal info such as where you are, your picture, and who’s in the car with you.
Before the 2011 ban, the town of Ridgeland, SC was accused of ticketing out-of-state drivers on I-95 (through the use of traffic cameras) to boost the town’s revenue.
Advocates of red light cameras in South Carolina
Those for red light cameras say that they can deter drivers from running a red light in the future. Having to pay that ticket really makes them think the next time.
One argument on the privacy issue is that, “Automated enforcement doesn’t violate privacy because driving is a regulated activity on public roads. By obtaining a license, a motorist agrees to abide by certain rules, such as to obey traffic signals. There’s no legal or common-sense reason drivers shouldn’t be observed on the road or have their violations documented.” (IIHS.org)
Advocates also say that the privacy and revenue generation issues could be “addressed by writing safeguards into the would-be legislation. For example, the bill could specify that any money generated from tickets sent using the automatic cameras would have to go toward pedestrian safety, not to the local police department or city hall.” (TheState.com)
The bill could also state that the cameras can only photograph the back license plate on vehicles.
Citizens for Safe Streets
A nonprofit organization in Columbia, Citizens for Safe Streets, is building a coalition of community members and city leaders across South Carolina who support appealing the 2010 ban. This organization is lobbying the state legislature to change the law to allow the use of red light cameras.
Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann is among the group’s supporters. He said this isn’t about revenue; it’s about deterring people from breaking the law. (TheState.com)
Red light cameras are a tool to help keep intersections safe by deterring people from running red lights. They aren’t perfect, but they play a big role in reducing accidents and saving lives.
Running red lights can lead to serious accidents and injuries. Remember, no appointment or destination is worth risking your life or the lives of others. Let’s all do our part to keep our roads safe!
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Other online resources used for this article:
USAToday.com
