Orlando Jumps on Red Light Camera Band Wagon

Sandy Grinnell

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The City of Orlando has announced the 7 locations of the 10 new red light cameras to be installed and operational by September 1st. The purpose of the red light cameras is to reduce the number of future accident caused by red light runners down from the 525 accidents the happened in Orlando last year.

The red light cameras take a digital photo, including a close up of the license plate, of any vehicle entering the intersection after the light turns red. The registered owner of the vehicle is then sent a notice they have 30 days to either pay the $125 fine or appeal the citation.

Opponents of red light cameras say that red light cameras don't reduce the number of accidents at traffic lights but actually result in an increase in traffic accidents. A study by the University of South Florida College of Public Health reported in the Science Daily basically says that red-light cameras don't work. According to Barbara Langland-Orban, professor and chair of health policy and management at the USF College of Public Health,

“Instead, they increase crashes and injuries as drivers attempt to abruptly stop at camera intersections. If used in Florida, cameras could potentially create even worse outcomes due to the state’s high percent of elderly who are more likely to be injured or killed when a crash occurs.”