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                Safety Evaluation of Red-Light Cameras
FHWA-HRT-05-048.pdf (620.01 KB)
      
  Publication Information
                  Publication Type:Technical Report
                  Publication Number:FHWA-HRT-05-048
              Abstract:The objective of this final study was to determine the effectiveness of red-light-camera (RLC) systems in reducing crashes. The study used empirical Bayes before-and-after research using data from seven jurisdictions across the United States at 132 treatment sites. The purpose of the study was to estimate the crash and associated economic effects of RLC systems and specially derived rear end and right-angle unit crash costs for various severity levels. Crash effects detected were consistent in direction with those found in many previous studies: decreased right-angle crashes and increased rear end ones. The economic analysis examined the extent to which the increase in rear end crashes negates the benefits for right-angle crashes. The analysis showed an aggregate crash cost benefit of RLC systems. A disaggregate analysis found that the greatest economic benefits are associated with the highest total entering average annual daily traffic, the largest ratios of right-angle to rear end crashes, and with the presence of protected left turn phases. There were weak indications of a spillover effect that points to a need for a more definitive, perhaps prospective, study of this issue.
              Publishing Date:April 2005
                                      Author(s):Council,
    
          Forrest
              Persaud,
    
          Bhagwant
              Eccles,
    
          Kim
              Lyon,
    
          Criag
              Publishing Office:Office of Safety Research and Development
                  FHWA Program(s):Safety
              Research
              AMRP Program(s):Safety Data and Analysis
              FHWA Activities:Highway Safety Information System
              Subject Area:Safety and Human Factors U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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