Accidents Piling up at Pleasant Valley and Riverside

Over the last six months, red light cameras have caught 11 crashes at Pleasant Valley Road and Riverside Drive making it the most dangerous of the nine Austin-area intersections equipped with red light cameras. The intersection can be confusing to drivers with multiple lights and turn lanes so its no surprise its a hot spot for car accidents and accounts for 11 of the 31 crashes recorded. According to the tapes, other dangerous intersections include MLK at I-35 and Lamar at Ben White.

Red light cameras were installed in Austin starting in 2008 and have since captured hundreds of traffic violations. However the debate over whether red light cameras make for safer roads is still an ongoing national debate. Supporters claim that the cameras create a heightened sense of awareness among drivers while detractors argue that they encourage speeding through intersections to avoid getting caught which can then lead to accidents further down the road.