Installing Cameras on Stoplights Discourages Red-Light Runners.Red-light running was reduced by 40% in 40 communities across the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. that use cameras to photograph vehicles that run red lights, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes, and the rate of injuries and amount of property damage in the crashes that still occur. . Red-light cameras, which typically cost about $50,000, are triggered by sensors located in the intersection. The cameras photograph the license plates of vehicles that cross an intersection after a traffic light has turned red. Police officers view the pictures and send traffic tickets by mail to the owners of the vehicles. Fatal crashes at traffic signals jumped 18% and resulted in more than 1.5 million injuries between 1992 and 1998, according to the institute. Occupant occupant n. 1) someone living in a residence or using premises, as a tenant or owner. 2) a person who takes possession of real property or a thing which has no known owner, intending to gain ownership. (See: occupancy) injuries occurred in 45% of crashes attributed to red-light running compared with 30% for other crashes, according to a study of crashes on public roads in four urban areas during 1990 and 1991. New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , Washington, Sacramento, San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden , Denver and Charlotte, N.C., are among the major cities that use red-light cameras. A recent red-light camera program in Oxnard, Calif., reduced red-light running 42% after cameras were introduced at nine intersections. Phoenix had the highest rate of deaths related to red-light crashes among U.S. cities between 1992 and 1998. The National Association of Independent Insurers, which actively supports the use of red-light cameras, reported that Phoenix planned to install cameras by the end of the year. As of June, nine states had red-light camera laws on the books, and legislation was pending in several others. Georgia is the most recent state to approve the use of red-light cameras, clearing the way for their installation as early as next summer. Running Red Lights Between 1992 and 1998, 5,951 people in the United States died in crashes involving a driver who ran a red light. Here are the 10 cities with the highest death rates for that period. City Deaths Death Rate 1 Phoenix 122 10.8 Memphis, Tenn. 49 8.0 Mesa, Ariz. 26 7.8 Tucson, Ariz. 34 7.6 St. Petersburg, Fla. 18 7.6 Birmingham, Ala. 18 7.0 Dallas 73 7.0 Albuquerque, N.M. 28 6.8 Louisville, Ky. 17 6.5 Detroit 65 6.5 (1)Deaths per 100,000 people. |
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