Red Light Cameras Unsuccessful in Reducing Fatal Crashes in Large US Cities

Objective: In 2011, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) evaluated changes in fatal red light running (RLR) and total fatal crash rates in cities that both never used and used red light traffic cameras (RLCs). The IIHS reported that RLC cities had larger decreases in both fatality rates. We replicated the IIHS study and then corrected for methodological errors that violated the IIHS study's validity. Methods: Negative binomial models were executed for fatal RLR and total fatal crashes, first excluding one extreme outlier RLC city and then using matched case-control cities with similar fatal RLR rates in the "before" period. Results: The camera variable was not statistically significant in these models or in the replication of the IIHS total fatal crash rate model. Conclusions: RLCs were not associated with reductions in fatal RLR or total fatal crash rates. Cities that employ RLCs may not improve the safety of their communities.