AAA Questions Effectiveness Of Yonkers Red Light Cameras
YONKERS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A new report from AAA claims some of Yonkers' red light cameras are not preventing accidents.
The city told The Journal News that safety has been increased since it adopted the program in 2010 and that side-impact collisions have been "significantly" reduced.
AAA compared crash data from 2013 to the year before each of 24 cameras was installed. While it found that T-bone accidents were down 15 percent, it also discovered that rear-end crashes jumped 83 percent and accidents with injuries rose 29 percent.
Critics have long argued that people will slam on the brakes when they know a camera is watching.
Yonkers has collected $14 million in fines since 2011. AAA questions whether the money is the primary motive for the cameras.
On Central Park Avenue, WCBS 880's Sean Adams said it was easy to spot which drivers were conscious of red light cameras and which ones weren't.
Some drivers didn't slow down at all for a yellow light; others hit the brakes and stopped hard.
One driver told Adams he is wary of the cameras.
"I try to keep a good eye on where it says the numbers -- how many seconds you have left before the light changes," he said.
"I guess this is another way for the city to make money," the driver added.
Another motorist said he was not surprised by AAA's findings.
"The T-Bone accidents are down because the people aren't going to run the red light," he said. "But the tail-end accidents -- they're getting hit from behind -- I can guarantee that those stats are up."