Road traffic crashes are a major and increasing cause of injury and death around the world. Many crashes occur as a result of red-light running (RLR), which occurs when a driver enters an intersection after the traffic light has turned red. While many drivers obey traffic signals, the possibility for violations exists due to issues such as driver distraction, aggressive driving behaviours, or a deliberate decision to ignore the traffic signal. RLR may result in collisions that cause damage to property as well as injuries and fatalities. Red-light cameras (RLCs) are an enforcement mechanism that permit police to remotely enforce traffic signals. They may serve as a deterrent to drivers who intentionally engage in RLR. The previous Cochrane systematic review of RLCs found that they were effective in reducing total casualty crashes but found that evidence on the effectiveness of cameras on red-light violations, total crashes, or specific types of casualty crashes was inconclusive. However, this review searched only a small number of electronic databases and was limited to a handful of studies published in 2002 or earlier. This report updates and expands upon the previous Cochrane systematic review of red-light cameras. It presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of RLCs on the incidence of red-light violations and the incidence and severity of various types of traffic crashes. (Author/publisher)
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