South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog
One Fort Lauderdale pedestrian is counting his blessings today, as he escaped death from a two-car accident. According to the Sun Sentinel, it was all caught on the intersection’s red-light camera.
The accident happened at roughly 5:00 p.m. at the intersection of State Road 84 and South Federal Highway. According to the company that provides the intersection cameras, the footage was released to show officers just how beneficial the equipment can be when investigating accidents.
But does the good outweigh the bad? Our Lake Worth car accident lawyers understand that these red-light cameras have been in question for quite some time now. Some believe that they’re helping to make our roadways safer, while others argue that they’re only increasing the risks for intersection accidents. The truth of the matter is that red light runners cause hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of injuries each and every year. In 2011, there were more than 700 people who were killed and another 120,000 who were injured in these kinds of accidents. About half of these fatalities were bicyclists, pedestrians and occupants in other vehicles.
While these cameras help to stop red-light runners, they’re also increasing the risks for a rear-end accident. Drivers are quick to stop at intersections now in fear of getting a traffic citation. But the problem here is that they’re stopping short and we’re seeing more rear-end accidents.
Wondering where the red-light cameras are in the state of Florida? Check the Photo Enforced website for all the details.
A study released this year by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) found that the number of accidents declined at intersections with red-light cameras in 41 jurisdictions – but increased in more than 10. When you break it all down, the number of T-bone accidents are declining, but the number of rear-end accidents are increasing.
According to Florida Today, many believe that these cameras are only installed to help reel revenue for the government. It’s true, there’s a lot of money to be made with these cameras.
More than 2 million police-reported traffic accidents happened near an intersection in the U.S. in 2009. These accidents account for more than 40 percent of all reported accidents for the year. These accidents resulted in more than 81,000 serious injuries and close to 7,500 fatalities.
It’s not about running a red light, or skidding to a stop to avoid a red-light ticket. It’s about entering intersections with the safest intentions. There’s a lot going on in these areas and you’ve got to be on the lookout. Beware of traffic coming in other directions. Expect the unexpected. You can’t rely on the safe driving habits of others at these points of traffic conflict. Make a proactive effort to pass through these crossroads as safely as possible, abiding by all traffic devices.
Call Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez — 1-800-561-7777 for a free appointment to discuss your rights.
More Blog Entries:
Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda Involved in Massive Airbag Defect Recall, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, April 29, 2013
NHTSA: Tailor Safety Ratings to Older Drivers, Families, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, April 27, 2013