One in five traffic accidents in the United States involves a driver running a red light. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that these violations cost about $7 billion a year. This figure includes property damage, medical bills, lost wages and high insurance premiums. About 800 people die in these accidents every year. The problem is only getting worse. Since the 1980s, running red lights has increased by more than 10% in many areas.
Cities are fighting back with automated enforcement. Red light cameras have been installed at intersections across the country. These devices are fully automated. They collect evidence that the authorities need to prosecute violators. If you run a red light, you might get a ticket in the mail several weeks later. It will include a photograph of your car running the signal.
Running red lights is responsible for 22% of all traffic accidents in the United States, resulting in 800 deaths and $7 billion in damages each year.
The technology behind these systems seems complex. it is not. The whole operation is based on three simple parts.
- Cameras
- Triggers
- a computer
The Camera Setup
Cameras will be installed at the corners of intersections. They are attached to posts several yards high. At the intersection, the lens points inward. This angle describes a vehicle passing through the box. Most systems have cameras mounted on all four corners. This setup allows for multiple angles. It also covers traffic from different directions.
Older systems used film cameras. Newer deployments use digital cameras. Digital sensors provide higher resolution images. It also streamlines the evidence gathering process.
