AUTO SAFETY PLUMMETS AS REGION POCKETS RED LIGHT CAMERA CASH

There are sixteen intersections in Waterloo Region with Red Light Cameras installed. A three year study indicates that without increasing traffic at these red light camera intersections, collisions and injuries are rising. They are rising I might add at much higher rates than at 445 other intersections in the region. While there were six fewer collisions due to someone running a red light there were 43 more rear-end collisions and 23 more turning collisions. It would appear that people are paying attention to the red light camera signs and as a direct result are doing one of two things. They are either slamming on their brakes at the last second because of a yellow caution light or they are flooring the gas peddle in order to clear the intersection quickly and avoid the $325 fine. This is also caused by shorter yellow caution lights over the last twenty years. The results are predictable and are borne out by the statistics namely more rear-end and turning collisions as people turning judge the safety based on distance only, versus speed as well and the rear-end collisions occur when a car clearly committed to going through an intersection on the green suddenly hits the brakes hard because the yellow caution light just came on. All of this is predictable but free money in the coffers is what this program is all about. Safety my butkus! The Record article is titled "Red light revenue soars even higher".