In Knoxville, Farragut, Hardin Valley, Powell and surrounding areas, red light cameras are found at many different intersections in order to prevent drivers from disobeying traffic signals. Motorists can be ticketed for running a red and getting caught on camera. In order to prevent this, many drivers end up hitting the brakes at the last minute when they approach a light that has turned yellow and that is turning red.
Unfortunately, this has serious safety consequences. Red light cameras have actually caused the risk of rear-end accidents to rise as drivers stop their car suddenly and the vehicles following them are not always able to stop on time. For those who are hurt in rear-end crashes, the driver in the back vehicle is usually to blame for causing the accident because he did not leave sufficient following distance. However, if the driver slams on the brakes in the lead vehicle, he could be partly at fault as well. A personal injury lawyer can help those who have been in accidents to determine which drivers should be held responsible for losses after rear-end crashes resulting from red light cameras.
Are Red Light Cameras Helpful or Harmful?
The Highway Safety Research Center indicates that there has been around a 15 percent increase in the number of rear-end crashes at certain intersections that have red light cameras installed. An increase in rear-end collisions due to cameras has been reported in newspapers nationwide, and the National Motorists Association has a list of links to news stories highlighting the dangers of red light cameras in cities throughout the United States.
So, if red light cameras are causing more rear-end crashes, why are they still being used? A big reason is that these cameras are able to reduce the risk of side impact crashes and other collisions that result from drivers running red lights.
Safety 1st reports that there has been a 20 percent increase in deaths due to side impact crashes in the past 20 years. One in four car accidents in the U.S. is a side impact crash, and one in three kids who dies in a motor vehicle collision loses his life in a side impact crash.
Drivers failing to stop at traffic signals at intersections is a leading cause of side impact accidents, as well as a leading cause of pedestrian deaths when motorists are struck by drivers who disobey the light. The Highway Safety Research Center reports that as many as 900 deaths and 200,000 injuries happen annually because drivers go through red lights. However, the Center also shows that there has been a 25 percent reduction in the number of side impact crashes at intersections where red light cameras have been installed. The Washington Post backs up this assertion with more data demonstrating a 26 percent decline in traffic deaths in a five year period at intersections that had cameras.
The benefits of preventing side impact crashes and pedestrian fatalities need to be weighed against the risk of rear-end crashes when determining if red light cameras are a good traffic safety device or a danger designed just to increase revenue and not actually improve road conditions.
Knoxville accident lawyer can help collision victims. Contact G. Turner Howard III, Attorney at Law at (844) G3-Help-Me or 865-558-8030. Serving Knoxville, Farragut, Hardin Valley, Powell and surrounding areas.
