Editorial: Amarillo puts stop to red-light critics

So far, accidents have not increased

Opinion Column Publication Date: 06/16/08

One of the main criticisms of Amarillo's red-light camera system, which began officially issuing tickets this past Thursday at a handful of intersections in the city, was that this idea was an accident waiting to happen.

More specifically, those who opposed red-light cameras, which photograph the license plates of vehicles running red lights and send a $75 citation to the registered owner, contended that there would be a rash of accidents at red-light camera intersections.

Slow down.

So far, there is no evidence of an increase in accidents at red-light monitored intersections.

According to Cpl. Jerry Nuefeld of the Amarillo Police Department, there has not been a discernible spike in accidents since the red-light cameras went "on-line" and active May 12.

A brief look at the numbers available as of last week revealed a small number of accidents that could be related to red-light cameras: two at I-40 and Coulter (on the north frontage road), one at Third Avenue and Pierce and two at I-40 and Ross. There were none at Elmhurst and Coulter.

Keep in mind, these intersections were high-risk accident areas before the city approved a red-light camera system.

"I definitely would not tell you that (accident rates) are up," Nuefeld said. "There is definitely not an increase. These are probably from normal traffic."

Red-light cameras have been blamed for spikes in accidents, mostly from rear-end collisions as motorists jam the brakes to avoid running a red light and getting their picture taken and ticketed.

Fortunately, it appears most Amarillo motorists are obeying the law, which is the goal of red-light camera systems.