New York City Car Accident Attorney Nicholas Rose knows that if you live in or drive around New York City you’ve probably encountered a red-light camera. More likely than not, you probably have a definitive opinion about their use. In short: either you love them, or you hate them.
Supporters of red-light cameras believe they prevent serious or fatal New York City car accidents. Detractors see them as yet another source of income for the City. They question their accuracy. They believe they are a sure sign that our privacy is facing extinction.
Such is a New Yorkers passion for the topic that there are numerous web pages dedicated to both the demise and the support of legislation that permits the installation and use of red-light cameras in New York City. There are so many cameras that Google Maps plots them. All 318 of them. According to WikiDriving, Brooklyn leads with 102 red-light cameras, followed by Queens (90), Manhattan (54), the Bronx (47) and Staten Island (25).
For those pushing to see the cameras taken down, a recent red-light camera study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety may have just made that position a little harder to sell.
According to the IIHS, red-light cameras saved 159 lives between 2004 and 2008 across 14 U.S. cities with populations of 200,000 or more. IIHS researchers estimate that, had cameras been installed in all large U.S. cities, more than 800 lives could have been spared.
Over the four-year study, IIHS determined that the rate of fatal red-light running car accidents dropped by 24 percent among the 14 cities where cameras are installed. Other types of fatal intersection crashes saw fewer wrecks as well.
The Governor Highway Safety Association reports that New York is among 22 states (Washington D.C. included) to have red-light camera programs currently in operation. According to the GHSA, New York state law permits the use of up to 100 red-light cameras in cities with at least a population of 1 million. In an effort to diffuse privacy issues for drivers and passengers, state law permits two or more images of the rear of the vehicle only and may not capture the interior. Citations are $50 and cannot be used by an insurer to affect rates.
As a New York City personal injury lawyer, Nicholas Rose understands that being injured in an accident is often one of the most stressful times in a person’s life. We would like you to know we are available for a free and confidential consultation if you have been injured. To schedule an appointment, call us at 1-877-313-ROSE (7673).
