The Effectiveness of Red Light Cameras In Washington and Oregon

This study considered collision data for Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon\ud in order to determine whether or not red light cameras are effective in reducing red light\ud running collisions. Red light running is extremely dangerous and is a leading cause of\ud urban automobile collisions in the United States. Red light cameras have emerged as a\ud potential means to reduce the incidence of red light running, but their use is clouded in\ud controversy regarding effectiveness. There are two sides to the issue and any data can be\ud viewed from either standpoint, depending on the beliefs of the individual. This has\ud greatly complicated the interpretation of current studies on the issue and added to the\ud controversy.\ud The results from the analysis of the data from Seattle and Portland were\ud ultimately inconclusive. Both cities have very small amounts of collision data, making it\ud difficult to draw conclusions with any certainty. The data does, however, show a general\ud decrease in severe (angle) collisions, but the accuracy of this statement is unknown. In\ud addition, the definition of effectiveness and location also play a role in the difficulty of\ud interpreting the results