AAA believes that visible law enforcement officers are the most effective means of deterring traffic violations. However, we also recognize the potential of red light cameras to perform critically important enforcement functions, thereby enhancing traffic safety.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

• In 2007, almost 900 people were killed and an estimated 153,000 were injured in crashes that involved red light running.
• About half of the deaths in red light running crashes are pedestrians and occupants in other vehicles who are hit by the red light runners.
• Cameras reduce red light violations by 40-50 percent and reduce injury crashes by 25-30 percent.

Given the current fiscal climate and the strong interest in the revenue raising potential of these programs, AAA urges the state’s elected officials to consider the following:

• Cameras must be used to promote traffic safety, not to generate revenues.
• Motorists must be treated fairly.
• Yellow light intervals must meet compliance standards. Only deliberate red light runners should be targeted.
• Motorist must be informed of the effort and that such devices are in use.
• Program implementation and issuance of citations should be under direct supervision of state-certified law enforcement personnel.
• Violation notices must be sent in a timely manner. A red light infraction should be treated as a non-moving violation, similar to a parking ticket.

A majority of AAA Western and Central New York members recently surveyed (64%) responded that they were in favor of the expanded use of red light cameras in New York State.