Red light and speed cameras are powerful enforcement tools that have been shown to reduce crashes, but programs must be carefully implemented to maintain community support. A new checklist released by AAA, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Safety Council (NSC) can serve as a roadmap for communities that are establishing or expanding automated enforcement programs.
The National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR) invites road safety advocates to use the resources on this page in their work against the dangerous but reversible impact dangerous driving distractions has on our communities. Along with clear and concise advice for how to get the attention of decision-makers, this page provides research and data from independent sources to describe the magnitude of the danger and how camera technology is helping to reduce traffic collisions and improve driver behavior.
Red-light running is the leading cause of urban crashes, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In 2019, nearly 850 people died due to red-light running crashes. However, red-light safety cameras are a critical tool that helps improve driver behavior and reduce red-light running. Automated enforcement technology helps improve intersection safety for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists alike.
Nearly 26 million school children in the United States ride school buses to and from school, getting on and off the bus 20 billion times in a single school year. In 2019, an estimated 17 million drivers illegally passed school buses across the country, posing a serious danger to children. School bus stop arm cameras help reduce this risk by penalizing drivers who disobey school bus passing laws, which are typically under-enforced.
In 2018, speeding killed an estimated 9,378 people across the country, which is 26 percent of total traffic fatalities for the year. In fact, the faster a car is going, the greater the risk of injury and death. Speed safety cameras—which are installed in communities across the country—have greatly reduced the number of fatalities and injuries that result from speeding.