Automated, i.e constant monitoring, is slightly different than ad-hoc police enforcement, as drivers learn which lights are continually monitored will change behavior, in those locations. Just like known "speed traps" cause people to slow down, or if you use Waze you will slow down if police are reported on the app.

So I have no doubt that automated enforcement will change behavior, I still opposed automated enforcement on a number of grounds, privacy / constitutional / abuse concerns / etc.

Further I would have to look deeper into the implantation, but I know more than a few studies on Red Light cams have shown that while they will reduce intersection crashed, often then INCREASE rear end crashes as people slam on the breaks when the yellow comes on making the intersection not really "safer" it just changes the location of the wreck.

Now for a city like NYC rear end may be safer over all given the high levels of pedestrians I dont know...

Sure, it's different. The claim was that traffic enforcement via fine doesn't improve safety; I've shown that a form of traffic enforcement via fine does.

I've heard just about every driver I've ever talked to repeat the "red light cameras cause rear-ends" claim, but the only evidence I've seen shows that they decrease rear-ends. That makes more intuitive sense to me: most people have regular commutes, and you learn to follow the traffic laws after the first handful of tickets.

[1] https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/...

[2] https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15135851/rear-end-cra...

[3] https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/calculator/factsheet/...

I appreciate the links. It looks like red light cameras are indeed much less effective (and maybe even counterproductive) in the rest of the US. As a pedestrian, I consider them a blessing in NYC.

There are speed traps on some neighborhood streets in Chicago that are so hair trigger sensitive (or maybe just miscalibrated?) that locals just don't drive down that street. They go a block out of their way to not pass that camera. Even some people who live on that block do this.