Smile, you're on red light cameras.

• Position: TRENDS AND TRANSITIONS - Brief article

Running red lights and causing crashes result in about 800 deaths and 137,000 injuries injuries every year, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In an effort to curb these statistics, more than 400 communities have turned to automatic red light and speed cameras. Red light cameras are triggered when a car enters the intersection after the light has been red for a predetermined time. The camera technology allows cities to enforce traffic violations efficiently without using scarce personnel.

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State automated enforcement laws vary. Some states, like Georgia, authorize enforcement statewide, whereas others, like New York, allow only certain communities to use the technology. Some cities use camera enforcement without state enabling laws.

The Texas Department of Transportation studied 56 intersections and found that collisions...