Study Details

Study Title: Still red light for red light cameras? An update

Authors: Hoye

Publication Date:JUN, 2013

Abstract: The present study has replicated the results from a previous meta-analysis by Erke (2009) [Erke, A., 2009. Red light for red-light cameras? A meta-analysis of the effects of red-light cameras on crashes. Accident Analysis & Prevention 41 (5), 897-905.] based on a larger sample of RLC-studies, and provides answers to the criticisms that were raised by Lund et al. (2009) [Lund, A.K., Kyrychenko, S.Y., Retting, R.A., 2009. Caution: a comment on Alena Erke's red light for red-light cameras? A meta-analysis of the effects of red-light cameras on crashes. Accident Analysis and Prevention 41, 895-896.] against the previous meta-analysis. The addition of recent studies to the meta-analysis and a more thorough investigation of potential moderator variables lead to a slight improvement of the estimated effects of RLC in the previous meta-analysis. The present study found a non-significant increase of all crashes by 6% and a non-significant decrease of all injury crashes by 13%. Right-angle collisions were found to decrease by 13% and rear-end collisions were found to increase by 39%. For right-angle injury collisions a decrease by 33% was found and for rear-end injury collisions a smaller increase was found (+19%). The effects of RLC are likely to be more favorable when RLC-warning signs are set up at main entrances to areas with RLC enforcement than when each RLC-intersection is signposted. The effects of RLC may become more favorable over time, this could however not be investigated empirically. Several results indicate that spillover effects may occur for right-angle collisions, but most likely not for rear-end and other crashes. If spillover effects do not occur for rear-end crashes, which increase at RLC intersection, this would be a positive result for RLC. However, the results seem to be affected to some degree by publication bias and the effects may therefore be somewhat less favorable than indicated by the results from meta-analysis.

Study Citation: Hoye, Alena. "Still red light for red light cameras? An update". Accident Analysis and Prevention, Vol. 55, pp. 77-89, 2013 Study related to: Erke, A. "Red light for red-light cameras?: A meta-analysis of the effects of red-light cameras on crashes", Accident Analysis and Prevention, Vol. 41, Issue 5 (2009), pp. 897-905


CMFs Associated With This Study

Category: Advanced technology and ITS

Countermeasure: Install red-light cameras

CMF CRF(%)QualityCrash TypeCrash SeverityRoadway TypeArea Type
0.83173 StarsAllKNot specified
0.88123 StarsAllA,B,CNot specified
1.06-63 StarsAllAllNot specified
1.03-33 StarsAllONot specified
0.67333 StarsAngleA,B,CNot specified
0.87133 StarsAngleAllNot specified
1.19-193 StarsRear endA,B,CNot specified
1.39-393 StarsRear endAllNot specified
1.06-63 StarsOtherA,B,CNot specified
0.9373 StarsOtherAllNot specified
0.9283 StarsHead on,Left turnA,B,CNot specified
0.82183 StarsHead on,Left turnAllNot specified

Countermeasure: Install red-light cameras with warning signs at all RLC intersections

CMF CRF(%)QualityCrash TypeCrash SeverityRoadway TypeArea Type
0.87133 StarsAllA,B,CNot specified
1.12-123 StarsAllAllNot specified
0.57433 StarsAngleA,B,CNot specified
1.02-23 StarsAngleAllNot specified
1.15-153 StarsRear endA,B,CNot specified
1.46-463 StarsRear endAllNot specified

Countermeasure: Install red-light cameras with warning signs not at all RLC intersections

CMF CRF(%)QualityCrash TypeCrash SeverityRoadway TypeArea Type
0.86143 StarsAllA,B,CNot specified
0.9823 StarsAllAllNot specified
0.55453 StarsAngleA,B,CNot specified
0.75253 StarsAngleAllNot specified
1.24-243 StarsRear endA,B,CNot specified
1.15-153 StarsRear endAllNot specified