Rear End Collision and Red Light Cameras In Castro Valley, California

Castro Valley authorities have installed several new red-light cameras. The amount of accidents have increased since then and it is a mind boggling dilemma. Within few months Castro Valley authorities have generated substantial income and issued almost 3000 fines. The revenue for the city is a good thing, however, car accidents with rear end collisions have increased as well.

According to a report for intersections with red light cameras: Rear-end collisions have more than doubled. These cameras make the drivers stop suddenly and the driver that follows them does not have enough time to react, thus rear-end accidents happen. Of course, keeping a safe distance would be a great help, but in this fast pace society everyone is in a rush especially in metropolitan cities.

Is one third of a million dollars in revenue for the city worth  the risk of the of potential personal injury risk that these cameras my be causing?

The red light cameras are designed to stop aggressive driving behavior, and might actually possibly prevent more serious car accident injuries. One of the major San Francisco Personal Injury Attorneys informed that red light cameras might be causing rear-end collisions but they also prevent more serious accidents from happening.

A study conducted by the state of Virginia in 2007 seems to support both theories. The study found that after red-light cameras were installed, rear-end collisions increased 27%. However, “red-light running crashes” decreased 42% in the same period.

The debate about the red light camera will provide different answers from different people of interest in this particular case. San Francisco Auto Accident Attorney could be saying one thing, the city would be saying the other thing, or even the local AAA will be saying a third thing. Is this a conflict of interests? California AAA’s vice president,  thinks money is the determining factor. “It’s more about the money than it is traffic safety,”. In fact, there is a new law taking effect July 1 that will increase the red-light camera fine from 5 to 8, with of each 0 going to the state of California; the local government splits the rest with the camera vendors.

While San Francisco City Authorities did not draw a complete conclusion, and I don’t think they ever will, on the effect of the red light cameras. One of the city’s spokesman stated that: “A larger sample size is needed to make any determinations about the program’s effect on accidents.”

San Francisco is the first city in Greater Bay Area to issue fines resulting from red-light cameras, but other Bay Area cities could be next. With preliminary plans to install seven more cameras, residents should be on good terms with their San Francisco Auto Accident Attorney, given the increased rate of rear-end collisions. As for residents of San Francisco proper, the latest word is that there is no current plan to extend the number of red-light cameras beyond the original few.