Page "Bill White (Texas politician)" Paragraph 41

Also, at the recommendation of Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt, White had 50 red-light cameras installed around Houston.

Originally four intersections were used to test the traffic cameras in September 2006.

The trial cameras met the requirements and were approved for using throughout the city.

The red-light cameras caused controversy, though, even leading to some lawsuits.

Many people argued that this was just a way for the city to make money at the expense of public safety.

However, White has stood behind his decision to keep the red light cameras.

Studies have revealed mixed results of the effectiveness of red-light cameras.

A study in Houston in 2008 revealed an increase in accidents at intersections with red light cameras, although it also revealed a decrease in citations.

A city-financed study of red-light cameras at Houston intersections shows traffic accidents doubled at those intersections in their first year.

The study also found that citations decreased.

However, other studies have found that red-light cameras reduce accidents and citations.

A study by Texas A & M University found that accidents were reduced in Texas by 30 %.

Several studies funded by insurance trade groups which study traffic safety, have found the cameras had a dramatic effect and reduced accidents by as much as 30 percent.

A study released in 2008 from the Texas Transportation Institute found a 30 percent reduction across the state.

A study in Lubbock, Texas of red light cameras showed a 52 % increase in accidents, so the City Council voted against installing them.

A news investigation found that the Houston intersections with cameras often had yellow lights that were too short, and violated Texas Department of Public Safety recommendations.

Houston suburb Sugar Land found that the combination of lengthening yellow lights and installing cameras reduced violations by 96 percent.

This finding is consistent with a March 2005 Texas Transportation Institute study of 181 Texas intersections during a three-year period which found that increasing the length of yellow-light time by one second reduced violations by 53 percent and crashes by 40 percent.