“Red-light” proponents claim new poll shows 68-percent support among likely CT voters

Of course it will be lawmakers, not voters, who will decide whether it becomes law, but here is the executive summary from the National Coalition for Safer Roads, which is promoting the use of red-light cameras to catch drivers running traffic signals and giving the revenue to eager towns and cities. The poll was conducted for them by the Global Strategy Group.

“EXECUTIVE SUMMARY RESULTS OF CONNECTICUT STATEWIDE SURVEY

(602 interviews conducted January 26-29, 2012 among registered CT voters

Margin of error +/-4.0% at the 95% confidence level)

 

A statewide survey of Connecticut voters shows very strong support for red light cameras at busy intersections, with over two thirds (68%) of voters supporting this safety measure and only 28% opposing it. Even after messages against the measure are read, opposition remains weak (only 31% of voters oppose it following messages against red light cameras). This measure has strong support across party lines (63% support among Republicans, 68% among Democrats and 71% among independent/unaffiliated voters), as well as by age, gender and other demographics.

The specific measure in the legislature (“a

measure that would enable cities with 60,000 or more residents to install automated cameras at intersections and mail fines of at least $124 to traffic violators caught on camera”) receives similar support (67% support/30% oppose).

It’s not hard to understand why support is so high: Fully 70% of voters believe that red light cameras will make other drivers more careful when they know the cameras are present. (However, fewer drivers said it would make themselves more careful – 45% said the cameras would make them more careful, 49% said the presence of cameras would not. It’s likely a bit of the “Lake Wobegon effect,” in that everyone believes they are an above average driver in terms of carefulness and skill.)

The best reason given for supporting the measure is that red light cameras reduce accidents by 25% at intersections with the feature. Fully 79% of voters found this to be a very or somewhat convincing reason to support red light cameras at busy intersections.

While only just over half of voters (52%) were aware that efforts were being made to install red light cameras, the high level of support after only a brief explanation points to the obviousness of the benefits.

As further proof, no message against the measure was able to raise major doubts among more than 31% of voters about this potential policy.

The survey demonstrates conclusively that support is strong among Connecticut voters for installing red light cameras at busy intersections. “