Crashes Up at City’s Red-Light Camera Locations

Data show that the number of accidents at Clive, Iowa, intersections monitored by red-light cameras was twice as high in 2012 as the number four years earlier.

The Des Moines Register says over the same period, the number of accidents citywide dropped 22 percent.

Clive’s red-light cameras are to be back in operation Monday, now that the City Council has approved a new contract.

A review of data provided to the council shows 26 accidents occurred at red-light camera intersections in 2012; 13 occurred in 2008.

Police Chief Michael Venema says using the number of accidents to evaluate the effectiveness of the camera program would be misguided because the sample size is so small.

City Councilman Michael McCoy disagrees and says the data show the enforcement program has been ineffective.