NCSR: Red-Light Safety Cameras Fund Health Initiatives in Florida

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- It is well known that red-light safety cameras help police enforce traffic laws and drive down the number of dangerous crashes in intersections. In Florida, benefits of the cameras extend beyond traffic safety – aiding trauma centers and helping doctors better care for their patients under emergency circumstances.

It all stems from Florida's Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act, which requires that every time a motorist pays a red-light running ticket, $10 goes to trauma centers and $3 goes to the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. This legal provision is why dangerous drivers have contributed more than $10.9 million to two important health initiatives in Florida since the Wandall Act passed in May 2010.

New figures from the Florida Department of Health indicate that red-light safety camera violations contributed over $7.3 million in funding for trauma centers across the state. Three trauma centers top the list for benefiting most from these funds – Ryder Trauma Center in Miami ($758,400), Orlando Regional Medical Center ($707,000), and Shands University of Florida in Gainesville ($610,700). At all recipient trauma centers (see below for full list) the funds go a long way to help men, women and children facing severe physical trauma and life-altering injuries.

Florida red-light safety cameras also contributed more than $3.6 million to the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, funding cutting-edge research into spinal cord injuries that are often caused by traffic collisions. At the Miami Project, more than 200 researchers diligently pursue more effective treatments for people living with brain and spinal cord injuries on their way to the ultimate goal, a cure for paralysis. In January, The Miami Project performed the first step in an important clinical study that will lay the foundation for future cell-based therapies to target spinal cord injuries.

Florida isn't the only state where red-light safety camera funds are helping the public. Communities in Texas are using a portion of the fines to fund trauma centers, traffic safety programs, drunk driving education programs, and more.  In Texas, profits from the camera program are split evenly between the city and the state and the state's portion goes toward funding trauma centers.

According to a recent survey of 73 Florida police agencies using red-Light safety cameras, the traffic safety technology has reduced crashes on Florida roadways. Results from the Florida Highway Patrol survey found a decrease in total crashes to be the single most common outcome the agencies experienced since installing the cameras. Additionally, the greatest percentage of agencies surveyed reported fewer right-angle crashes and fewer rear-end crashes.

As these cameras help to improve driver behavior and decrease accidents, the fines collected from red-light runners are going back into communities and improving traffic safety efforts across the country. These contributions to trauma centers, paralysis research, and traffic safety programs help the victims of car crashes recover and aid in keeping roads safe for all.

For more information on red-light safety cameras visit www.NCSRsafety.org. See below for a list of all trauma centers across the state of Florida who are impacted by the funds generated from the Wandall Safety Act.

Florida Trauma Center Payout Allocations by Fiscal Year

About The Miami Project
The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis is the world's most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center, and a designated Center of Excellence at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. The Miami Project's international team is housed in the Lois Pope LIFE Center and includes more than 250 scientists, researchers and clinicians who take innovative approaches to the challenges of traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.

About The Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act
The "Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act" is established whereby the regulation and use of cameras for enforcing traffic control signal laws is expressly preempted to the state. The manner in which municipalities and counties may administer such a program is established and the amount of the fine to be imposed, $158, is provided. Disposition of fines is provided as follows: three-fifths to be retained by the county or municipality enforcing the ordinance; one-fifth as provided by s. 318.21, F.S.; and one-fifth to be deposited in the Department of Health Administrative Trust Fund. Learn more from Melissa Wandall, Mark's widow, here: www.melissawandall.com.

About the National Coalition for Safer Roads
The National Coalition for Safer Roads helps save lives and protect communities by demonstrating how red-light safety cameras can improve driver behavior. NCSR brings together policymakers, community leaders and concerned citizens in support of red-light safety cameras, advocating for their use in cities and communities across the country. The National Coalition for Safer Roads is a 501 (c)(6) industry trade association. To learn more, please visit www.NCSRsafety.org, follow @SaferRoadsUSA on Twitter and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SaferRoadsUSA

SOURCE National Coalition for Safer Roads