Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Shows Lives Saved in Several Safety Camera-Enforced Cities Served by Redflex

PHOENIX, Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released a study that confirms a 24% reduction in fatalities (159 lives saved) across 14 U.S. cities with safety camera programs operating from 2004 to 2008. Had safety cameras been operating during that period in all large cities, a total of 815 deaths would have been prevented, the analysis found. In this comprehensive national study, all 99 cities in the U.S. with over 200,000 in population were considered. Sixty-two cities were involved in the final comparison, which spanned the course of two timeframes—from 1992 to 1996 and from 2004 to 2008—and compared crash rates before and after the safety cameras were implemented.

The largest reduction in fatal red light running crashes was found in Chandler, AZ, a Redflex partner since 2000, where the rate dropped 79%. Redflex partners with half the cities involved in the study, including Chandler and Phoenix, AZ, Toledo, OH, Chicago, IL and Bakersfield, Santa Ana and Sacramento, CA.

"Examining a large group of cities over several years allowed us to take a close look at the most serious crashes, the ones that claim people's lives," said Anne McCartt, IIHS Senior Vice President for Research and co-author of the study. "Our analysis shows that red light cameras are making intersections safer."

"This is a substantial scientific analysis of almost 100 cities in the U.S. It is a powerful and unmistakable confirmation of the effectiveness of safety cameras in reducing fatalities," said Karen Finley, CEO and President of Redflex. "We are proud to provide a technology that decreases death and injury on our streets and to serve half the cities that were surveyed in the study, including Chandler who experienced the largest decrease in fatalities."

The in-depth analysis studies the aggregate effect of safety cameras in an entire community, not just at safety camera-enforced intersections. It also takes into account population density and land area over the two time periods. The following is an excerpt of the study:

"In the current study the cities that implemented red light camera programs had higher baseline crash rates, suggesting that government officials were motivated by safety concerns. Although automated traffic enforcement is not a panacea, the current study adds to the large body of evidence that red light cameras can prevent the most serious crashes. This evidence should be considered by communities seeking to reduce crashes at intersections."

For the full study, visit: www.iihs.org.

About Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc.

Redflex, the leading provider of road safety cameras in the U.S., has been partnering with cities for more than 20 years to help save lives and reduce injuries on America's roadways through innovative technologies and strategic service partnerships. Headquartered in Arizona, Redflex has consistently pioneered public safety technologies and led the market in growing its safety partnerships across the U.S. Please visit our website at www.redflex.com or YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/redflexsafety for additional information.

SOURCE Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc.