Although car accidents proved to increase after red-light cameras were installed, city council members in a Missouri city may bring them back anyway.

Due to a ruling by the Missouri Supreme Court in April 2010, the cameras were turned off. At that point, the court claimed the cameras violated state laws. In addition, those who were issued tickets were not sent to a municipal or county court; they were placed before a city administrative hearing judge.

The cameras are designed to keep the streets safer and to minimize the number of car accidents caused by drivers who speed through red lights. But do the cameras actually reduce the number of car accidents, or do they create unnecessary problems and dangers?

Some council members think the problems associated with the cameras have been repaired and are ready to turn them back on. Others are hesitant because of the lack of safety during their use.

Safety questions stem from studies from the Missouri Department of Transportation, which discovered accidents increased by 14 percent as a whole, though crashes from the right angle, or "T-Bones," dropped by 12 percent.

If the council votes to restore the cameras at its next meeting, tickets will be issued for $100, though they will not cause points to be added to a driver's license.

The decrease in T-bone accidents can be viewed as a positive outcome. However, the ticket revenue doesn't generate any money for the city. The money would go to American Traffic Solutions, which is the company that provides the cameras.

Other options in place of the cameras have been suggested, including timing yellow lights to hold for longer periods. Testing needs to take place before any other suggestions are approved.

Source: News-Leader.com, "Red-light cameras could soon return to Springfield roads," Amos Bridges, Jan. 30, 2012