Red-Light Camera Towns Treble / New GPS Detector from Cheetah Helps Keep Motorists Safe and Avoid Fines

PHOENIX, Ariz.--The number of US communities with red-light cameras and speed cameras in the USA has almost tripled this year. That’s the statistic revealed in the SpeedCheetah.com “CAMERA WATCH” survey.

IIHS figures at the end of January of 2007 showed 215 US communities had red-light camera programs or were discussing contracts with vendors. Cheetah have revealed that this figure is now 617 cities and growing rapidly, despite studies showing that controversial photo radar cameras can increase accidents.

Alisdair Smith, Cheetah’s VP of Marketing said, “Revenues tend to drop over time at any static camera location so it’s interesting to watch the strategies being adopted to maximize revenue from each site. Most photo-radar cameras in Arizona now catch speeders on green lights. Louisiana’s ones will be Speed-on-green. Houston cameras now ticket for turning right at stop signs without coming to a complete halt. That tactic is also used in California and it’s coming to New Jersey.”

The GPSmirror is a unique camera detector which is now available in the USA from online retailers for $299. It has the Trinity Database of red-light and speed camera locations preloaded into its memory and drivers download new camera locations from the company’s website. Explaining the product, Smith insists it is not about helping drivers outsmart the red light cameras although he acknowledges some may view it that way. “Nobody can fully concentrate for 100% of the time and the scientific research shows that most red light running is accidental because people are not paying attention or are confused. Our red-light camera detector helps motorists drive more safely by reminding them to pay extra attention when they are approaching one of these dangerous intersections.”

All recent studies show an increase in rear end accidents when red light cameras are introduced. Smith continues, “That kind of accident usually only happens when people are surprised by the person in front breaking suddenly. If either driver had been using our product they would have been better prepared and perhaps they could have avoided that accident.”