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May 23, 2009 5:35 pm US/Eastern
Pembroke Pines Boasts Use Of Red-Light Cameras
But A Recent USF Study Reveals They May Cause More Accidents
PEMBROKE PINES (CBS4) ―
When Pembroke Pines became the first Broward city to capture images of red-light runners, some questioned how effective red-light cameras would be at preventing accidents.
But the city boasts it as a success.
In a two-month period, the city has already caught 377 drivers running the red light at Pines Boulevard and 129th Avenue and collected $12,941 for the city and $7,200 for the company that manages the cameras, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Each red-light runner is slammed with a $125 fine.
"We're happy that it's generating fines," Pembroke Pines Police Chief Dan Giustino told the newspaper. "It is showing that it's effective."
Other cities are gearing up to set up similar cameras in their borders. Red-light cameras are already set up in Hollywood and Hallandale Beach. And more than a dozen Broward cities are considering their use.
However, the University of South Florida in Tampa released a study saying red-light camera could increase the number of rear-end accidents because cameras might encourage drivers to slam on their brakes rather than risk a fine.
So far, the city has not analyzed the number of traffic accidents at the intersections where the red-light cameras are in operation, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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