Traffic signals are intended to safely control the flow of traffic through an intersection. Go through a red light and a police officer will probably pull you over and issue you a traffic ticket. The use of red light cameras in communities in New York to enforce red light violations has come under fire as increasing the chances of getting into a car accident.
According to experts in highway safety, a distracted driver who fails to take notice of a changing light is at risk of causing a car collision with traffic entering the intersection. Red light cameras were originally installed to prevent motorists from entering intersections against a yellow or red light by raising the chances of a driver being caught.
Data collected from communities appear to support the original intent of the cameras by showing a decline the car accident rate caused by intersection collisions. The same data also points to a sharp increase in rear-end collisions as drivers slam on their brakes rather than risk getting a ticket by entering the intersection and being caught by the camera.
Red light cameras are not the only traffic situations that increase the risk of a car accident and serious injury for motorists. Texting and driving takes a driver’s attention away from the road long enough for an accident to happen. Having an accident with a distracted driver or with a drunk driver continue to pose a risk of having a car accident throughout the state
If you have suffered car accident injuries, a New City personal injury attorney might be able to offer you legal advice about your right to compensation. Whether the car accident was caused by a negligent driver texting and driving or by a driver following too closely and slamming into the rear of your vehicle to avoid a red light camera ticket, an attorney can advise you of the law as it applies to your particular set of facts.
Source: PIX11 News, Red light cameras may be causing more harm than good in New York City
