Accidents, Red Light Runners Decrease at Orange County Intersection Equipped with Red Light Cameras

Orlando auto accident lawyer James O. Cunningham has been following the debate about red light cameras for several years now. He fully supports installing these devices because studies have shown that when drivers know the cameras are installed at an intersection, they are much less likely to disobey traffic signals. Opponents of the cameras say that they are more of a revenue stream for cities, counties and the companies who make the cameras and are not effective at preventing accidents at intersections.

A recent study conducted by Orange County engineers found that red light cameras are very effective at reducing accidents and discouraging negligent drivers who run red lights. They examined every intersection equipped with a camera in the county and found that red light violations dropped by 18 percent and the number of accident fell by 11 percent, when comparing two different one-year segments between 2011 and 2013. Other Central Florida counties and communities report similar results. For example, Ocoee officials say that they are writing 50 percent fewer tickets now than they did when they installed the cameras in 2009. In a move that may backfire, Apopka officials recently announced that red light running is down so steeply at some intersections that they plan to remove four of the 22 cameras they installed over the last several years.

The Orange County red light program began in 2011, with 10 cameras installed at especially dangerous intersections. County officials plan to install another 40 cameras by early 2014 and another 80 over the next couple of years. Some of the red light camera statistics compiled by Orange County engineers include:

• Violations decreased at 9 of the 10 intersections equipped with cameras
• The number of accidents at red light camera intersections dropped from 543 to 467 from 2012 to 2013
• The intersection of northbound Hiawassee and Old Winter Garden Road had the highest number of recent violations, with 2,205 from 2012 to 2013
• Orange County red light citations dropped from 15,816 to 11,880 from 2012 to 2013

No appointment, game or other event is so important that a driver needs to run a red light to save time. In many cases, drivers who disobey traffic signals cause horrific accidents that kill and maim people who were unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. If a driver running a red light has injured you or a member of your family and you would like to speak with an Orlando car accident injury attorney, call Mr. Cunningham today at 386-243-4994 and schedule a consultation.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.