Accidents up after installation of red light cameras

Despite a history of praising red light cameras to no end, the Washington Post reported today a study showing that in the six years since Washington D.C. has had them, accidents have actually gone up.
Washington D.C. has generated 500,000 offenses and $32 million in fines from the cameras, but it hasn't stopped the rising crash toll in those intersections: crashes have "more than doubled from 365 collisions in 1998 to 755 last year. Injury and fatal crashes climbed 81 percent, from 144 such wrecks to 262. Broadside crashes, also known as right-angle or T-bone collisions, rose 30 percent, from 81 to 106 during that time frame."

Officials claim that the increase can be attributed to higher driving volume as compared with stats from six years ago. The Post's study, however, shows that accident statistics in intersections without the cameras are the same or better than intersections with the cameras.

Thanks to Richard for the tip.