Cameras which automatically photograph vehicles going through red lights have been installed at two intersections in Dublin city centre on a pilot basis. The cameras have been in operation at the undisclosed locations for over six months. Ian Noctor reports.;;;
The joint venture between Dublin City Council and the Garda stems from growing concerns over the number of collisions resulting from red-light running. Such crashes tend to be more severe than other intersection collisions because they usually involve at least one vehicle travelling very quickly. In the most serious red-light running collisions, the vehicles hit each other at right angles. The resulting side-impact collisions cause severe injuries sometimes leading to death.
Red light running (RLR) cameras are connected to the traffic signal and to sensors buried in the footpath at the crossing or stop line. The system continuously monitors the traffic signal, and the camera itself is triggered by any vehicle passing over the sensors above a pre-set minimum speed and a specified time after the signal has turned red.
A second photograph is taken that shows the red light violator in the intersection. The camera records the date, time of day, and time elapsed since the beginning of the red signal and the speed of the vehicle. Electronic flash produces clear images of vehicles under all light and weather conditions.
As the two red light running cameras in Dublin are still being operated on a pilot basis no prosecutions have as yet been issued but a spokesman for Dublin City Council says the cameras reveal a high level of red light running at the intersections.
The international experience of RLR cameras shows a significant drop in the number of offences where the cameras are used. A report released earlier this month by the US Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration shows that RLR violations dropped by as much as 60 per cent where cameras automatically enforce the law.
In Canada public awareness of red-light cameras have improved aggressive driving behaviour. In Ottawa, red-light violation rates decreased by 42 per cent within a few months of camera installation. The benefits of improved driving habits even spread into intersections without cameras.
In Melbourne, Australia where red light cameras have been in operation in Victoria since 1983 there are now no differences in the observed rates of red light running between camera and non-camera approaches.
The system on test in Dublin uses the latest digital technology, an expected benefit of which is the ease in the photo collection and the consequent acceleration of the processing and distribution of notices of tickets for the gardai who will operate the system. This benefit is brought about because the captured image can be electronically transmitted directly via a telephone line installed in the camera, to the central processing location. The dated technology used in the country's three fixed speed cameras require personnel to periodically collect the film from the camera, and process it. These costs don't apply with the digital system used in the RLR cameras, which means they can operate continually without requiring film to be reloaded. The labour saving benefits of the digital system is sure to find favour with the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, who is looking for ways to free up gardai while reducing costs. However, trained officers will review every picture to verify vehicle information and ensure that the vehicle is in violation. Tickets will then be posted to vehicle owners only in cases where it's clear the vehicle ran the red light.
There are however a number of issues raised by the gardai's use of digital technology. First the Department of Transport says the legislation to cover the use of digital camera exists under the Road Traffic Act but hasn't yet been enacted. For this reason the system has not yet been upgraded to a fully operational system.
It's far easier to tamper with digital images than traditional "wet" film. Brendan O'Brien of Dublin City Council's traffic department, which commissioned the RLR cameras, says this issue is addressed by making the cameras "write only". In other words once the image has been taken it cannot be altered in any way.
Another concern is the processor speeds required to save the high resolution images which could result in an inability to photograph second or third violators going through the same red signal.
The effectiveness of the pilot scheme is being evaluated before a decision is taken as to whether it will be rolled out across the capital and other cities and towns across the country. Also whether offenders will collect penalty points for RLR offences is still unclear.