More than a dozen Florida cities recently released footage of accidents caused by vehicles running through red lights.
Cities have used the footage to improve safety by reminding drivers of the danger posed by running red lights.
More than $30 million from paid red-light safety camera violations has been given to 22 trauma centers throughout the state that treat individuals injured in emergencies including auto accidents.
For every paid red-light running violation, $3 is donated to the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. To date, more than $16 million has been donated.
In addition, Orlando uses the revenue from traffic tickets to fund safety improvements projects.
The use of red-light safety cameras has caused accident rates to fall by more than 50 percent in the communities where they have been implemented, according to the National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR).
“These disturbing videos illustrate the severity of red-light running. Florida has ranked third in the nation for red-light running deaths,” Melissa Wandall, NCSR president, said. “(These videos are) a reminder of how important it is as we continue to educate drivers on the dangers of red-light running and work together to drive down the heartache and prevent such crashes.”
The Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act, named after Wandall’s late husband, permits the use of red-light safety cameras throughout Florida. Mark Wandall was killed by a vehicle that ran a red light in October 2003.