Orwell Returns to Arlington

Arlington County’s red light cameras are coming back this summer.

The ostensible reason is safety. OK, fair enough. But statistics show that accident rates actually tend to go up at intersections that have cameras installed. How does that happen?

Yellow light times are often shortened. That way the cameras nab more drivers running reds and can issue more tickets. That means more revenue for local governments. It also means more accidents for drivers.

This pattern has played itself out everywhere from Colorado to Texas to DC. At least one politician has publicly acknowledged that his city has the cameras for revenue-generating purposes. The safety angle? That’s just PR.

Now the cameras are coming back here.

Thanks, Arlington.