NSC Supports Stoplight Cameras
The National Safety Council announced today it has adopted a new public policy supporting the use of automated enforcement (red light cameras and speed cameras) for traffic safety. Representatives of the NSC's 50,000 member organizations adopted this policy statement last week at their annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif.:
The National Safety Council recognizes that speeding, running red lights, ignoring school and work zones and railroad crossing warnings annually result in more than 15,000 deaths, hundreds of thousands of serious injuries, societal costs of at least $54 billion and immeasurable grief for American families. The National Safety Council supports the use of automated enforcement of red lights and speed limits solely for its safety benefit. Prior to implementing an automated enforcement system, NSC encourages communities and states to adopt best practices for their use, which includes engineering, maintenance, calibration, yellow light timing, testing, camera placement and use of photos only for traffic safety in pursuit of criminal activity. Communities and states implementing automated enforcement are also encouraged to establish procedures to evaluate and improve effectiveness.
Background information supporting the policy is available on the NSC Web site at http://downloads.nsc.org/pdf/policystatements/Automated_Enforcement.pdf.
"Numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies have concluded that automated enforcement, including red light cameras and speed cameras, is proven to reduce traffic crashes, injuries and deaths," said Janet Froetscher, NSC president & CEO. "This policy demonstrates that the NSC will continue to be a national advocate for best practices proven to save lives. We now will work with our local chapters and other traffic safety leaders across the country to encourage the passage of laws to expand the use of these life-saving technologies."
The National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running, an advocacy group dedicated to reducing the incidence of red light running in the United States and the fatalities and injuries it causes, voiced support for the NSC's new policy. "We applaud the Council's endorsement of photo enforcement," said Leslie Blakey, executive director of the campaign. "By weighing in on this issue, the NSC continues to demonstrate its commitment and contribution to traffic safety."