Under the red light’s gaze
By Kim Chi Ha, senior writer
Posted on March 1, 2007

The Virginia Senate recently passed a bill approving the reinstallation of photo-monitoring systems at intersections with traffic lights to try to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents.

According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, 2.6 percent of motor vehicle accidents are caused by motorists running stoplights and stop signs.

“This week I almost got hit by two cars that ran red lights, and it was real scary, so the cameras would probably reduce the possibility for accidents,” junior Amanda Chaney said.

The bill, if signed into law by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) later next month, will allow local governments in towns and cities with populations of more than 10,000 to install the cameras.  Motorists that run red lights will be photographed and ticketed.

“The governor now has 30 days to review the bill and consider whether he’ll sign it,” said Jimmy Carr, assistant secretary of transportation.

Photo-monitoring systems were in place for a number of years in the counties of Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun, as well as Falls Church and Virginia Beach. The Virginia General Assembly failed to renew them, and they were discontinued last July. Under the new bill, localities can install and operate the systems at no more than 25 intersections at a time.

“I think public policy would say that the number-one priority is the safety of the traveling public,” Carr said. “It’s also been important to the governor that any photo red bill be a local option and that the privacy and integrity of any data collected is carefully protected.”
But some dispute the effectiveness of the bill.

A study conducted in 2005 by the Virginia Department of Transportation showed an increase in the total number of crashes, including injury accidents where the red-light cameras were used.  There was also an increase in rear-end crashes, although there was a decrease in injury crashes due to motorists running red lights.

“I’m on the fence about this issue because … it is safer to barely run a red light than it is to slam on the breaks and jeopardize yourself and the cars behind you,” junior Lizzy Nguyen said.  “At the same time, though, there are still those idiots who pay no attention and run solid red lights, putting others in danger.”

If the bill is passed, the decision on whether to install them in Harrisonburg will be left up to the city council.

“[The bill] gives us that local option, not to say that we’ll use it, but we’re in the process of looking into it for some of our more challenging intersections,” said Harrisonburg Mayor Rodney Eagle.  “It costs about $100,000 per camera, so we’d think long and hard [about installing them] and sometimes they cause more accidents than they prevent.”

As far as installing photo-monitoring systems on campus, Lt. Landes, JMU’s Patrol Division Commander said: “It’s all new and we haven’t given it any thought yet; I have no idea where it might lead.”

On-campus accidents due to motorists running red lights have not been a problem, said Landes.

Still, Carr said, the bill will do what it was intended to.

“While there’s a slight increase in the overall number of accidents, if you look in terms of severity and damage, then the totals are significantly reduced as a result of red light cameras,” Carr said.  “You can’t consider five teeny fender benders versus one fatal accident.”