from Getting There by Michael Dresser
\nA survey by a prominent highway safety group shows two-thirds support for the use of red light cameras in Baltimore and 13 other large U.S. cities, indicating the public believes study findings that the devices reduce auto fatalities.<\/p>\n
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said its survey shows that 67 percent of respondents in Baltimore support the use of the camera — a percentage that is in line with the national average.<\/p>\n
Other cities in the survey ranged from 78 percent support in Washington to 48 percent favorable in Long Beach, Calif. The survey did not address public acceptance of speed camera.<\/p>\n
The institute contends the survey shows that opponents of the red light cameras, while vocal, make up a minority of the driving population. According to the group, another of its studies showed a 24 percent reduction in fatal crashes in the same cities since the introduction of the technology.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost drivers don\u2019t buy the argument that it\u2019s somehow wrong to enforce the law just because you\u2019re using a camera to do it,\u201d says Anne McCartt, the Institute\u2019s senior vice president for research. \u201cThey understand that this technology is preventing crashes in their cities.\u201d<\/p>\n
The survey found that nine in 10 drivers call red-light-running unacceptable, and eight of 10 consider the practice a threat to their own personal safety.<\/p>\n
The institute said the survey found that about one-quarter of the respondents firmly oppose use of the cameras. It said the most common reasons given — by 26 percent each — were that cameras make mistakes and that they are installed to raise government revenue rather than to improve safety.<\/p>\n