The topic of red light cameras is still being debated, despite Kansas City, Missouri suspending the use of these cameras in 2012 and the state of Missouri declaring them unconstitutional in 2015.
On March 25, Mayor Quinton Lucas engaged his followers on X by asking a thought-provoking question: “With the number of fatal auto crashes increasing, what do you think about reintroducing red light cameras to our community, similar to what is being considered in St. Louis?”
According to data from the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, Lucas highlighted in his tweet that there has been an increase in fatal crashes over the past three years. The number of traffic deaths from 2020 to 2023 has seen a significant rise.
In KCMO, the number of fatal crashes increased from 85 in 2022 to 90 in 2023.
In a startling turn of events, the number of deaths has exceeded 100, marking a grim milestone that hasn’t been reached in the past three years.
Ron Achelphol, the Director of Transportation and Environment for the Mid-America Regional Council, highlighted the persistent rise in aggressive driving, speeding, and distracted driving even during the pandemic.
MARC is responsible for transportation planning in the region, and part of their role involves gathering data on transportation-related fatalities.
The organization utilizes this data in its Transportation Safety Plan, which aims to reduce traffic fatalities to zero by 2050.
Achelphol suggests implementing strategies to enhance the visibility of traffic control devices, such as traffic signals and stop signs, at these intersections.
KC 4 Safe Streets, an organization dedicated to promoting safer streets, supports various strategies to enhance traffic safety. These include reducing speeds, improving visibility, and providing education on traffic safety.
Sarah Israel, a founder of KC 4 Safe Streets and a cyclist, emphasizes the importance of understanding the need for safety measures beyond the confines of a motor vehicle.
Israel founded the organization in response to the tragic loss of a close friend in a traffic accident in 2019.
According to Israel, it is crucial to decrease the speed of our drivers.
KSHB 41 interviewed Israel at the intersection of West 39th Street and Southwest Trafficway, which is known to be one of the busiest intersections in the city.
The area was well-known for its red light cameras as well.
According to Israel, it is crucial to improve road design in order to prevent high speeds in areas with pedestrians and other drivers.
Israel is actively seeking community input on the possible return of red light cameras.
“It would be incredibly beneficial for our safety if our leaders were more responsive to the concerns and evidence presented by their community,” she emphasized.
KSHB 41 sought to gather additional input from the community regarding red light cameras.
We posed a question to drivers, seeking their thoughts on red light cameras.
Lynsay Beck, a Kansas City driver, shared her experience with red light cameras in the city. Although she didn’t reside in Kansas City at the time, she lived in St. Louis when these cameras were first introduced. Reflecting on her personal encounter, she mentioned receiving a ticket in the mail.
The cameras were banned because of her strong aversion towards them.
“I find it completely unconstitutional,” Beck stated. “Just imagine if it had been someone else behind the wheel of the vehicle.”
Regina Taylor welcomed the added vigilance that red light cameras could provide.
Taylor expressed her strong support for using technology to capture criminals and prevent loss of life.
Taylor wanted to ensure that the photos captured by red light cameras clearly depict the driver’s face, rather than issuing tickets based on the vehicle registration.
The use of facial recognition technology was being considered prior to the statewide ban on cameras. Now, as St. Louis reevaluates the possibility of reintroducing cameras, facial recognition technology is once again being taken into account.
Charon Thompson, a Kansas City driver who was present when the cameras were initially introduced in 2009, shared her frustration with the ticket dismissal process. According to Thompson, she had to take time off work approximately 10 to 20 times to resolve these tickets due to a turn she made right off the highway.
Beck expressed frustration when looking at her paycheck stub, stating, “It makes me so angry. Will they increase the earnings tax even more to cover the costs of implementing these lights?”
Thompson received a ticket at the intersection of East 55th Street and Bruce R. Watkins Memorial Drive, an area known for its high incidence of speeding and frequent issuance of traffic tickets.
According to American Traffic Solutions, a camera company based in Arizona, the cameras proved to be effective during their time in Kansas City.
At the time, the station reported that the city had generated more than $2 million from the cameras.
Israel and other experts remain unconvinced about the existence of a direct correlation between red light cameras and the rise in traffic fatalities.
During the period between November 2012 and November 2013, when the cameras were not in operation, the data collected by ATS at each intersection revealed a significant 48% increase in the number of times the cameras were activated.
There could be an increase in the number of incidents or near-misses if the cameras are removed.
According to Achelphol, collisions at intersections, particularly those involving aggressive driving, pose a significant threat. He emphasizes the severity of T-bone crashes, where one vehicle strikes the side of another, often resulting in severe injuries or even fatalities.
The increase in fatalities can also be credited to ongoing technological advancements that were not as dangerous a decade or two ago.
According to Achelphol, vehicles have become bigger and more technologically advanced. This has led to people feeling overly confident while driving them and neglecting important safety practices such as obeying speed limits and driving aggressively.
Kansas City has not made any official announcements regarding the re-introduction of red light cameras. When asked about their potential return, the mayor’s office responded to KSHB 41 with the following statement:
According to a spokesperson from the city, the research is ongoing in collaboration with the City’s legal department. If a proposal is eventually pursued, it will be presented in the form of an ordinance.
