Snohomish County officials announced a plan late last week to install red light cameras (RLC) at busy intersections by the end of next summer. In response to this announcement, residents of Snohomish County should heed the cautionary tales of other communities in America where traffic safety has decreased due to the RLCs. Several municipalities including Dallas, Nashville, and Chattanooga intentionally shortened the yellow light duration at intersections where the RLCs were installed, thereby increasing infractions and revenues, but severely decreasing the safety of law abiding motorists driving through those intersections. Read the National Motorists Association article on this topic.

A 2005 study commissioned by the Arizona Department of Transportation found that at intersections in Phoenix with red light cameras, angle crashes decreased by 42%, left-turn crashes decreased by 10%, but rear-end crashes increased by 51%.

The study states that “The frequency of rear-end crashes increases at RLCs intersections, presumably due to a relatively larger number of drivers braking suddenly to avoid a possible violation and fine.”

So if you are driver who obeys all traffic laws, understand that the RLCs are increasing your chances of a rear end collision at these intersections.

The benefit of RLCs is that the left-turn and angle collisions of drivers who run red lights are decreased, which are generally accidents with more serious injuries than the rear end crashes.

You can read the 141 page study by the Arizona Department of Transportation at this link: http://www.azdot.gov/TPD/ATRC/publications/project_reports/PDF/AZ550.pdf

Needless to say, this topic warrants public discussion, rather than an announcement from Snohomish County that the “safety camera” plan is going into effect next summer.