Kansas City Mulls Over Reviving Red Light Cameras to Curb Traffic Deaths
In response to escalating traffic deaths, Kansas City is contemplating the reestablishment of red light cameras, a decade after their initial usage was discontinued. The funds generated from the fines levied may be directed to facilitate driver’s education classes, and to develop speed bumps and crosswalks.
The Problem at Hand
Once idyllic and serene, Ward Parkway has now transformed into a notorious traffic hotspot. Since 2022, eight fatalities have occurred due to traffic accidents, with four of these being the result of running red lights or stop signs.
Road safety experts are in agreement that even the best of drivers can make mistakes, and these accidents are almost always deadly, especially on roads like Ward Parkway where speeds far exceed the 35 mph speed limit.
The city council of Kansas City is now looking towards St. Louis’ recent decision to reintroduce red light cameras. More than a decade ago, these were turned off due to legal complications but now, with clear directive from the courts, the city hopes to pursue this line of action.
Considering the Trade-Off With Red Light Cameras
The concept of red light cameras is not without controversy. In 2015, the Missouri Supreme Court delivered a verdict that these cameras had been improperly employed as they equated car owners with license plates. There was disaccord regarding safety outcomes when these cameras were installed, with some alleging that they primarily served as cash-cows for the city administration.
The Renewed Push for Red Light Cameras
Red light cameras were first installed in St. Louis in 2007, and started covering the salaries for new police officers. Kansas City followed suit in 2009, where the cameras were able to generate a commendable $2 million annually from deadly intersections. However, a series of successful court challenges in 2015 immobilized these cameras as they were only capable of capturing license plates, not drivers’ faces.
While the court did not prohibit red light cameras entirely, it emphasized the need to capture drivers’ faces. Even though the companies maintaining these cameras had the corresponding technology available, both Kansas City and St. Louis halted citations based on these cameras.
Mixing Views on the Revival
Now, St. Louis is reintroducing the cameras with fines ensuing from them directed towards driver’s education classes and road improvement projects such as the construction of mini roundabouts, stop signs with flashing lights, speed bumps, crosswalks, and appropriate speed limit signs. Despite initial cynicism towards these cameras, Alderman Shane Cohn hopes the revamped scheme will garner a better public response.
Emulating St. Louis, the Kansas City Council is planning to revive the red light cameras while addressing the concerns raised by the 2015 court ruling. The council is looking to review this plan by mid-July.
Research on the Matter
Achilleas Kourtellis, assistant program director at the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research, acknowledges that although the number of rear-end collisions might increase when red-light cameras are first set up, they are typically less deadly compared to right-angle collisions. According to him, the overall reduction in fatalities outweighs the increase in a different type of collision.
The Vision Zero Network, an organization with the goal to eradicate traffic fatalities entirely, generally supports the installation of traffic cameras. A vision for zero fatalities in traffic was accepted by Kansas City in 2020, which started plans to eliminate fatal crashes by 2030.
Looking Ahead
While speed cameras can deter drivers from speeding, they don’t eliminate the temptation to do so. To address this effectively, roadways may need to undergo changes such as lane reduction or tree-planting to create an illusion of narrower streets, thereby discouraging speeding.
The city acknowledges that while cameras are a good deterrent, the ultimate goal is to make structural changes to the built environment, reducing the need for speed cameras. While the debate continues, what’s clear is that there is a commitment to ensuring safer roads for residents.
