Red-Light Cameras Capture Highlight Reel of Florida Car Crashes

Chris Sweeney January 5, 2012 6:47AM

Place a few all-watching eyes at intersections throughout South Florida and reckless driving takes on a whole new meaning.

American Traffic Solutions -- the Big Brotheresque company that operates about a dozen red-light cameras in Broward and another 26 in Miami-Dade -- scoured its footage for the best accidents and close calls in Florida for 2011. The results, as expected from the deadliest state in the nation for pedestrians and bicyclists, are impressive.

While nowhere near as disturbing as the Florida Department of Transportation's collection of pedestrians getting crushed by oncoming traffic, the highlight reel has a few gems, including an RV plowing through a Lakeland intersection and a sedan T-boning a fire truck in Miami.

The cameras continue to be a legal headache, with drivers continually challenging the tickets and some lawmakers looking to cancel contracts with ATS.

As invasive as the cameras are, they do seem to be working at some intersections. Pembroke Pines, according to ATS, has seen a 46 percent drop in collisions at the intersection of 129th Avenue and Pines Boulevard.

Love 'em or hate 'em, one thing is for sure: The cameras are a gold mine of YouTube footage.

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Chris Sweeney