If you’ve driven through an intersection in the U.S., you might have noticed small cameras or boxes mounted on top of traffic lights. Most drivers assume those small cameras are there to catch red-light runners and send tickets. That’s not the case. The truth is, many of them aren’t mounted to watch for violations at all.
Most of these devices serve other purposes.
Red-Light Cameras vs. Traffic Cameras
The misconception among many drivers is that every camera mounted in an intersection is a red-light camera. Red-light cameras are usually installed to catch drivers who run red lights. These cameras are controversial to the often controversial, with 22 states and Washington D.C. having banned them completely.
Even in states where they are legal, those caught in violations of traffic rules are given civil fines instead of having points added to a driver’s license.
Those who support the use of these cameras say that they reduce dangerous right-angle (T-bone) crashes by up to 25%. On the other hand, those against argue that they increase rear-end collisions by about 15%.
What Most Traffic Cameras Actually Do
Most small cameras on traffic lights are operated by local transportation departments, not the police. They are mounted to manage traffic and ensure that roads are safer. They are not there to issue tickets.
Here are the functions of these traffic management cameras:
- Monitor congestion in real time
- Enable adjustment of light timing to reduce delays
- Detect accidents quickly so that first responders can be sent to help victims faster
- Track weather conditions such as heavy rainfall and snow
- Spot pedestrians and cyclists at intersections
In some cities, the videos and images recorded by these cameras are made available to the public. Other people use these cameras as their own photo booths.
Those Aren’t Always Cameras, They’re Smart Sensors
To make it even more confusing, not every gadget mounted on top of a traffic light is a camera. Many of them are sensors that perform different tasks. These sensors can be:
- Acoustic/optical designed to detect when a vehicle is waiting.
- Thermal sensors to pick up heat from cars, bikes, or people.
- Emergency detection sensors that trigger green lights for ambulances and fire trucks.
These mounted sensors or above-ground sensors are a big upgrade over the old inductive loops usually buried under the pavement. Inductive loops can only detect cars and are costly to repair or replace because the asphalt must be dug up. By contrast, modern sensors can monitor a whole intersection, and also pedestrians, cyclists. The replacement or repair process is also easier and cheaper.
Why Cities Are Installing More of Them
The use of traffic cameras is spreading fast. According to statistics, the number of installations at intersections is doubling approximately every two and a half years. These numbers show that they are the modern way of managing roads.
Traffic cameras help in reducing congestion, thus reducing emissions from idling vehicles. It also improves safety for all road users because besides vehicles, it also monitors pedestrians and cyclists joining an intersection.
Interestingly, some people have turned these cameras into photo booths. This proves that not every camera above a traffic light is a ticket machine waiting for you to break traffic rules. In Brooklyn, New York, there is an app known as the Traffic Cam Photo Booth that enables you to find a camera near you using a camera map. Once you have located its location, you can drive on that road and take selfies of yourself through the app.
Conclusion
While it’s true that red-light cameras are there, there are warning signs next to them to alert you that you are being monitored. Most of the small cameras mounted on traffic lights are not meant to watch you as you violate traffic laws. They are there to make your driving experience better by ensuring that traffic flows smoothly, detecting accidents and alerting respondents faster, and making intersections safer for all road users.