Red Light Camera Systems Operational Guidelines
Federal Highway Administration
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

January 2005

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Foreword
Red light running is one of the major causes of crashes, deaths, and injuries at signalized intersections. Most recent crash statistics show that nearly 1,000 Americans were killed and 176,000 were injured in 2003 due to red light running related crashes. The monetary impact of crashes to our society is approximately $14 billion annually.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) support a comprehensive approach to intersection safety that incorporates engineering, education, and enforcement countermeasures to prevent red light running and improve intersection safety. Red light cameras can be a very effective countermeasure to prevent red light running. There are a number of studies that indicate reduction in crashes at signalized intersections due to red light cameras. FHWA is promoting red light cameras as one of its identified priority, market-ready safety technologies.

This document is an update to a previous version dated March 2003 (1). The information contained in this document is intended to foster discussions and initiatives that will improve intersection safety by reducing crashes due to red light running. This document is not a regulatory requirement and the decision to use red light cameras is a matter for local decision-makers.

Photo Red Light Cameras
Photo Red Light Cameras work by using magnetic inductor loops which are set in the asphalt. These loops are set behind the prolongation of the curb line which defines an intersection in Arizona.

Are red light camera programs expensive? A red light camera costs about $50,000. Installation and sensors cost about $5,000 to $10,000 per intersection. A single red light camera can be used at several locations once the sites are equipped to work with the camera, allowing communities to move cameras among sites without drivers knowing which ones are active at any given time. Startup costs are offset by fines paid by violators, savings from crashes prevented, and by freeing police to focus on other enforcement efforts.

Red Light Cameras help improve safety. Red Light Cameras not only capture red light and speed violations, but are very useful in capturing collisions for accident reconstruction.

Crash Photos: