Kansas City Mulls Reintroduction of Red Light Cameras Amid Rising Traffic-Related Deaths

Kansas City Reconsiders Bringing Back Red Light Cameras

Over a decade since they were removed, Kansas City is now entertaining the idea of re-introducing red light cameras at several high-risk intersections across the city. This discussion is happening at a time when traffic-related deaths in the city have reached almost alarming levels.

Revisiting the Red Light Cameras: Context and Developments

Red light cameras, which automatically snap photographs of vehicles violating red traffic lights, were removed from the streets of Kansas City back in 2013. This decision was precipitated by a lawsuit in Eastern Missouri, where two local drivers claimed they were not behind the wheel when their vehicles ran red lights, thereby contesting the onus of the violation. The case eventually made its way up to the Missouri Supreme Court.

A Return Rooted in Safety Objectives

Currently, the city’s Mayor, keen on reducing the rising traffic-related fatalities and fostering safer roads, is leading the initiative to re-introduce these cameras. Notably, 2024 has witnessed an unwelcome surge in traffic deaths, marking the highest recorded in recent years. The Mayor emphasised the need to make streets safer for all road users, stating “Too many people are speeding, too many people are dying on the roads, too many people are running into issues. We owe it to the people who are driving through Kansas City to keep them safe.”

Public Opinion

A part of the city’s populace has shown support for the proposal, viewing the cameras as a necessary deterrent to reckless behaviour on the road. Paulette Peasley, a Kansas City resident, expressed her support for the move, “If you’re running a red light, or doing stupid things, then you deserve to be caught.” She has personally experienced the tragic effects of rash driving when she lost her son to a collision with a drunk driver. She asserted that the camera footage in her son’s case provided investigators crucial clues to confirm the offending vehicle’s speed, which was found to be a staggering 90 miles per hour.

Unsettling Stats Highlight the Issue

According to fresh data from the Kansas City Police Department, the city has already reported 44 deaths due to car crash incidents so far in 2024, a drastic rise from 32 reported in the corresponding period last year. This stark increase underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for effective measures.

Red Light Cameras: A Part of the Solution

While the re-introduction of red-light cameras is being considered, city leaders are also exploring other strategies under the Vision Zero initiative to ensure road safety. The broader objective is to devise a holistic approach that not only deters traffic violators but also slows down overall traffic, fostering a safer environment for both motorists and pedestrians.