“Man, that bird hasn’t budged the whole time I’ve been at this red light!” Actually, that is not a comatose bird you are looking at, but instead a red light camera. Red light cameras capture images of license plates and, in some cases, drivers who run red lights. The owner of the car is then sent a ticket in the mail for their violation.

These cameras have been the center of much controversy. Not only does the presence of many cameras set off alarms for the sci-fi fear of Big Brother, but they are also highly debated as being a tool to gain more government revenue from tickets and not just a way to promote safety.

As like most things in life, there are two sides to every coin. So let me just lay out the basic arguments on both sides so you can make the choice for yourself.

People who smile for the red light cameras say…

• According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), drivers running red lights accounts for 22% of all traffic accidents in the United States.
• An IIHS study in Oxnard, California showed that red light running violations dropped 42 percent after a camera was introduced. A similar study in Fairfax, Virginia showed violations declined 40 percent after one year of photo enforcement.
• Publicity of red light cameras is supposed to deter violations, not just simply a sneaky way to catch people in the act.
• Red light cameras don’t have biases and therefore cannot unfairly profile.
• Privacy issues are null because of the public setting. Also, only people violating the law are photographed (its actually really cool how the cameras are triggered; check it out at howstuffworks.com).

People who throw obscene gestures at the red light cameras

• The owner might not have been driving the car, yet they are mailed the ticket.
• Cameras increase other types of accidents, such as rear-ending, when people notice the camera and make hasty decisions to avoid ticketing. A Virginia Transportation Research Council study shows an increase of accidents with the installment of red light cameras.
• Longer yellow lights can make intersections much safer, in an easy and inexpensive way (check out the findings of the Texas Transportation Institute)
• There is no standardization of yellow light duration and several cities have been caught shortening them around a red light camera to increase revenue.
• Insurance companies (including IIHS) support red light cameras because more tickets mean they can raise insurance rates
• The accused receive notification months after the violation and sometimes without a picture, making it difficult to remember if they actually did violate the law or if there was a mistake.

So in conclusion, whether red light cameras improve safety or not, they probably aren’t going to disappear in the near future. If you’re really worried, take a look at photoenforced.com for red light cameras locations near you. Please, just drive smart and safely for the benefit of all.