A study was conducted to assess red light running (RLR) cameras in Fairfax County, Virginia. The RLR camera enforcement program involved ten cameras that were installed around the county. Intersections were chosen based on police and community recommendations in high commuter traffic areas. Warning signs were also erected upstream from the monitored intersections. All ten cameras utilized the same basic automated detection system setup. The typical setup included a dual loop system for detecting the vehicles entering the intersection and calculating their speed. Once the camera system detected a violator, it recorded two pictures from the rear of the vehicle, showing it enter and proceed through the intersection. These pictures were used to identify the registered owner by the license plate and give evidence for a citation. Violation data, accident data and traffic data were collected from the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, and the Fairfax County Police Department. The data analysis has identified improvements in violation rates on the order of 36 percent over the first three months of automated enforcement and 69 percent reductions after six months of camera operation. The accident rate data also showed a reduction of 40 percent in accidents. This reduction in accidents, accounting for expenses of implementation and operation of the system, could lead to a benefit to the community of approximately $8.75 million over the next eight years. Public opinion in the Fairfax County jurisdiction was found to be strongly supportive of the automated enforcement. The results found in this study show that the implementation of red light running cameras in Fairfax County, Virginia, have been successful in providing benefits with respect to traffic, economy and safety.
Abstract