In Huntington Beach, California, the City Council is meeting today to determine whether to get involved in a study to install red-light cameras at 20 local intersections. Nine of the intersections that are under consideration are on Beach Boulevard. Another intersection of concern is on Adams Avenue and Brookhurst Street.
According to a police study, of the 3,000 Huntington Beach traffic accidents that occurred in the Southern California city between November 1, 2007 and November 1, 2008, 550 of them involved red light violations. Approximately 24 Huntington Beach motor vehicle collisions in 2008 involved red light runners at some of the intersections that would be part of the study.
Some critics are concerned that while red-light cameras can prevent some traffic accidents from happening, they can also result in more rear-end crashes as drivers step on the brakes suddenly to avoid crossing the intersection, possibly causing a collision with the vehicle behind it.
Red-Light Running Accidents
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a red light running violation happens when a motorist drives into an intersection after the traffic light has turned red. Running a red light can be dangerous not just for the driver but for pedestrians and other motorists who may be getting ready to cross an intersection or the street because they now have a green light or a walk signal.
Often, the driver running the red light will be driving fast (possibly even accelerating the speed of the vehicle) in order to get to the other side of the intersection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that in 2007, about 153,000 people were injured and nearly 900 people died in traffic accidents involving red light runners. Over 50% of the people that died were pedestrians or riding in another car when they were hit by the driver that ran a red light.
Red Light Cameras
A red light camera will take automatically photograph of a vehicle (and its driver) after the traffic light has turned red. Drivers that have committed a red light running violation will receive their tickets (accompanied by a hefty fine) sent to them through the mail.
Huntington Beach considers red-light cameras, Orange County Register, March 2, 2008
Dangers of Running Red Lights, Driving University
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Our Huntington Beach traffic accident lawyers represent clients that were injured because a driver or another party was reckless or negligent and caused a serious car accident, truck crash, pedestrian accident, motorcycle collision, bus accident, or another kind of motor vehicle crash. Contact Howard Law, LLP today.
