ACCIDENTS AT RLC INTERSECTIONS GO UP DESPITE Non CAMERA INTERSECTIONS ACCIDENTS GOING DOWN!

Thanks to www.stpetecameras.org for the link!

http://westernsprings.patch.com/articles/huge-reduction-in-accidents-in-village-with-one-exception#

Huge Reduction in Accidents in Village--With One Exception

Village officials say that statistics from a recent accident report are highly encouraging, although accidents at Red Light intersections are actually up.

By Ann Wilson 
    

According to a report recently presented to the village board by Trustee Suzanne Glowiak, chair of the Public Health and Safety Committee, the Village of Western Springs has seen a significant decrease in auto accidents in 2010 as compared to the past two years.

The report stated that the year-to-date total for crashes in is 240, compared to 401 crashes in 2009 and 427 in 2008, the last year before Red Light Photo Enforcement cameras were installed at two intersections (Wolf Road and Ogden Avenue, and Wolf Road and 55th Street), considered the two busiest intersections in Western Springs.

"That is a significant reduction," said Deputy Chief of Police Brian Budds. "Our goal is to change driving behavior in our jurisdiction. Red Light cameras are only part of that effort.

"We also have goals as a department to enforce the laws in the village. To have three consecutive years with accident reductions tells us that drivers are changing their behavior and that we are enforcing the law." 

(Ban the Cams note:  It tells us THAT YOU ARE REALLY BAD AT SPINNING THE FACT THAT YOUR RLC MADE IT MORE DANGEROUS AT THOSE INTERSECTIONS!)

However, Budds said the statistics for accidents in the intersections with the Red Light Enforcement cameras have actually gone up. In 2008, there were 7 accidents at or near the intersection of Wolf and Ogden, and 4 accidents at Wolf and 55th. In 2010, the year-to-date statistics show that there have been 12 accidents at Wolf and Ogden, and 9 accidents at Wolf and 55th.

This could be of concern, given that Trustee Glowiak originally asked for an annual accident report because she "wanted to make sure that accidents weren't going up as a result of the photo enforcement.

"The reason the cameras were installed was to help reduce accidents.  We need to make sure that is actually happening," Glowiak said.

But Budds said that the increase in accidents in those intersections is slight and not necessarily related to the photo enforcement program, saying that there are many factors that contribute to accidents, such as weather and increase in traffic volume. The sample size for such accidents is also small.

"As part of the Red Light Enforcement Program, we are required to do a thorough analysis at 36 months to determine the overall impact of the cameras," Budds said. He added that the Police Department would be conducting that analysis when the cameras have been in place for 36 months.

A better indicator of the cameras' effect in those intersections can be seen in the number of red light violations issued over the past two years, according to Budds. After the cameras were installed, from June 2009 through December, there were 2173 red light violation citations issued at the intersection of Ogden and Wolf, and 428 citations issued at Ogden and 55th.

From January 2010 to November 30, 2010, a period of time five months longer, there were only 1706 citations issued at Ogden and Wolf and 502 citations issued at Ogden and 55th. "It shows that the cameras are changing driver behavior," said Budds. "Overall, the statistics show that drivers are responding to the law and driving safer."

Trustee Glowiak agreed, saying that "the village is committed to safety and the accident report is encouraging."
 

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