Impact of red light cameras on car crashes. To combat red light-running crashes-the phenomenon of a motorist entering an intersection after the traffic signal turns red and causing a crash-many states are adopting photo-red enforcement programs.
In these programs, red light cameras installed at dangerous intersections photograph the license plates of vehicles that run the red light. How effective are photo-red enforcement programs in reducing red light-running crash incidents at intersections?
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) conducted a comprehensive study of its newly adopted photored enforcement program and published the results in a June 2007 report.
In one portion of the study, the VDOT provided crash data both before and after installation of red light cameras at several intersections. The data (measured as the number of crashes caused by red light running per intersection per year) for 13 intersections in Fairfax County, Virginia, are given in the table. Analyze the data for the VDOT. What do you conclude?
