Study: Red-Light Cameras Reduce Crashes in Baton Rouge

July 2, 2013

It’s been five years since Baton Rouge launched a traffic light camera program, and data released recently shows drops in both traffic crashes and violations at the selected intersections.

The Advocate reports Baton Rouge’s Department of Public Works evaluated intersections where traffic cameras were installed in 2008 and 2009 by comparing the average number of crashes in the years before and after the cameras took effect.

The study showed a sharp decline in right-angle crashes – considered the most dangerous type of collisions – but also showed slight increases in rear-end crashes.

There was an average of 69 right-angle crashes in 2006 and 2007 in total at intersections where cameras were installed in 2008. The right-angle crashes at those locations dropped to a combined average of 41 per year for the years 2009 through 2011, or a decline of 40 percent.

In the same time frame, rear-end collisions for the designated intersections increased by 4 percent and total injuries for all collisions dropped 15 percent.

Rear-end collisions often spike when cameras are installed as cautious drivers tend to stop suddenly to avoid being ticketed, city-parish officials say, but rear-end collisions generally result in less significant injury and property damage than right-angle crashes.

Of 19 intersections that still have traffic cameras, 13 showed reductions in traffic light violations between the first year they were installed and 2012, according to data provided by American Traffic Solutions, the company overseeing the city-parish camera program.

John Price, an assistant chief administrative officer for Mayor-President Kip Holden, called the red light cameras a “model program” that’s enforcing the law and improving driver safety.

“This is a program that penalizes the people who are running red lights. If you’re not one of those subset, then you don’t have to worry about it,” Price said. “You should be happy that it’s out there to protect you and your loved ones.”

Was this article valuable?

Here are more articles you may enjoy.