Editing Red light camera (section)

{{short description|Type of traffic enforcement camera}}
[[File:redlightcamera.jpg|right|thumb|A red-light camera in use in [[Beaverton, Oregon]]]]
A '''red light camera''' (short for [[red light running]] camera <ref name=RLRC>{{cite web |url=https://www.fdot.gov/traffic/TrafficServices/RLRC.shtm |title=Traffic Infraction Detectors (RLRC) |work=Florida Department of Transportation |access-date=2021-04-07}}</ref>) is a type of [[traffic enforcement camera]] that photographs a vehicle that has entered an intersection after the [[traffic signal]] controlling the intersection has turned red.<ref name=IIHS>{{cite web |url=http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/rlr.html |title=Q&As: Red light cameras |date=December 2010 |work=Insurance Institute for Highway Safety |access-date=16 December 2010}}</ref> By automatically photographing vehicles that run red lights, the photo is evidence that assists authorities in their enforcement of traffic laws.<ref name=Retting2>{{cite journal |last1=Retting |first1=Richard A. |last2=Ferguson |first2=Susan A. |last3=Hakkert |first3=A. Shalom |year=2003 |title=Effects of Red Light Cameras on Violations and Crashes: A Review of the International Literature |journal=Traffic Injury Prevention |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=17–23 |doi=10.1080/15389580309858|pmid=14522657 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=Lum>{{cite journal |author=K M Lum |author2=Y D Wong |date=March 2003 |title=A before-and-after study on red light camera installation |journal=ITE Journal |volume=73 |issue=3 |pages=28–32 |publisher=Institute of Transportation Engineers |issn=0162-8178}}</ref> Generally the camera is triggered when a vehicle enters the intersection (passes the stop-bar) after the traffic signal has turned red.

Typically, a law enforcement official will review the photographic evidence and determine whether a violation occurred. A citation is then usually mailed to the owner of the vehicle found to be in violation of the law.<ref name=Priority>{{cite web |url=http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/teams/safety/safe_mrt_redlight.cfm |title=Priority, Market-Ready Technologies and Innovations, Red Light Cameras |publisher=FHWA.gov |access-date=22 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420144853/http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/resourcecenter/teams/safety/safe_mrt_redlight.cfm |archive-date=2011-04-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> These cameras are used worldwide, in China, in European countries, and in countries including: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Singapore and the United States.<ref name=Small>{{cite news |title=Halton adds voice to call for red-light camera traps |author=Jason Small |newspaper=The Hamilton Spectator |location=Ontario, Canada |date=18 August 1998 |page=N3}}</ref><ref name=NCHRP/> More than 75 countries worldwide use red light cameras.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.drivers.com/article/562/ |title=Red light cameras: a Drivers.com overview of the issue |publisher=Drivers.com |access-date=2020-02-24}}</ref>

If a proper identification of the driver cannot be made, instead of a ticket, some jurisdictions send out a [[notice of violation]] to the owner of the vehicle, requesting identifying information so that a ticket may be issued later. Other jurisdictions simply assess a fine to the owner of the vehicle and make no attempt to determine personal responsibility for the offence beyond that; in such locales owners are responsible for collecting the fine from the offending driver (assuming it is not themselves); however, such jurisdictions generally do not assign [[demerit point]]s or other personal consequences for traffic offences caught on camera.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, red-light running is a frequent cause of crashes, with 6,000 people killed between 1992 and 1998, 850 each year in the United States alone, while 1.4 million were injured. In Australia, 15% to 21% of the crashes at signalized intersections were related to red light running during 1994–1998.<ref>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1080/15389580309858|pmid = 14522657|title = Effects of Red Light Cameras on Violations and Crashes: A Review of the International Literature|journal = Traffic Injury Prevention|volume = 4|pages = 17–23|year = 2003|last1 = Retting|first1 = Richard A.|last2 = Ferguson|first2 = Susan A.|last3 = Hakkert|first3 = A. Shalom| issue=1 |doi-access = free}}</ref>

There is debate and ongoing research about the use of red light cameras. Authorities cite public safety as the primary reason that the cameras are installed,<ref name=SanDiego/><ref name=Scotsman>{{cite news |title=Crossings Pose the Biggest Rail Threat |author=Alastair Dalton |newspaper=The Scotsman |location=Scotland |date=8 November 2004 |page=4}}</ref><ref name=Burger>{{cite news |url=https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/crime/article34488867.html |title=5-year crusade concludes with red light law |author=Beth Burger |date=1 July 2010 |work=Bradenton Herald |access-date=25 March 2019 }}</ref> while opponents contend their use is more for financial gain.<ref name=Naples>{{cite web |url=http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/may/13/crist-signs-fla-bill-legalizing-red-light-cameras/ |title=Crist signs Fla. bill legalizing red light cameras |date=13 May 2010 |publisher=NaplesNews.com |access-date=7 January 2011}}</ref><ref name=Motorists>{{cite web |url=http://www.motorists.org/red-light-cameras/objections |title=NMA Objections To Red Light Cameras |publisher=National Motorists Association |access-date=9 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526113001/http://www.motorists.org/red-light-cameras/objections |archive-date=26 May 2011 }}</ref>
There have been concerns that red light cameras scare drivers (who want to avoid a ticket) into more sudden stops,<ref name="Fatemeh Baratian-Ghorghi 2015">{{cite journal |url=http://trid.trb.org/view.aspx?id=1337520 |title=Impacts of Red Light Photo Enforcement Cameras on Clearance Lost Time at Signalized Intersections |author=Fatemeh Baratian-Ghorghi|author2= Huaguo Zhou |author3= Isaac Wasilefsky |year=2015 |journal=Transportation Research Board |access-date=17 June 2015}}</ref><ref name=Baratian>{{cite journal |last1=Baratian-Ghorghi |first1=Fatemeh |last2=Zhou |first2=Huaguo |last3=Wasilefsky |first3=Isaac |year=2015 |title=Effect of Red-Light Cameras on Capacity of Signalized Intersections |journal=Journal of Transportation Engineering |volume=142 |page=04015035 |doi=10.1061/(ASCE)TE.1943-5436.0000804}}</ref> which may increase the risk of rear-end collisions. The elevated incentive to stop may mitigate [[side collision]]s. Some traffic signals have an all red duration, allowing a grace period of a few seconds before the cross-direction turns green. Some studies have confirmed more rear-end collisions where red light cameras have been used, while side collisions decreased, but the overall collision rate has been mixed. A [[systematic review]] summarized evidence from 38 studies and found that overall, red-light cameras are effective at reducing right angle crashes and related injuries, as well as total injuries, but they also lead to an increase in rear end crashes.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Cohn|first1=Ellen G.|last2=Kakar|first2=Suman|last3=Perkins|first3=Chloe|last4=Steinbach|first4=Rebecca|last5=Edwards|first5=Phil|date=2020|title=Red light camera interventions for reducing traffic violations and traffic crashes: A systematic review|journal=Campbell Systematic Reviews|language=en|volume=16|issue=2|pages=e1091 |doi=10.1002/cl2.1091|pmid=37131412 |pmc=8356316 |s2cid=225811348 |issn=|doi-access=free}}</ref> In some areas, the length of the yellow phase has been increased to provide a longer warning to accompany the red-light-running-camera. There is also concern that the international standard formula used for setting the length of the yellow phase ignores the laws of physics, which may cause drivers to inadvertently run the red phase.<ref name=TTI>{{cite web|quote="An additional issue is that many red light cameras use compressed video, making it impossible for the ticket holder to prove they were within the "dilemma zone". A dilemma zone is the area where a driver finds it is impossible to either stop in time or proceed through the intersection before the light turns red."|url=http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/ecd7d66f#/ecd7d66f/1 |title=Does the Multibillion-Dollar Red Light Camera Sector Owe Its Existence - and Profits - to Traffic Engineers' Misapplication of the Yellow Change Interval Formula? |last1=Ceccarelli |first1=Brian |last2=Shovlin |first2=Joseph |publisher=Traffic Technology International, October/November 2013 pp. 56-62}}</ref>