The hope, upon installation of the cameras, was that Florida cities would rake in millions of dollars in fines, as a result of images captured by a network of traffic cameras that exists between Pembroke Pines and Fort Lauderdale.

Unfortunately, growing numbers of motorists are disputing the tickets they receive, and winning court rulings that then limit law enforcement. In Fort Lauderdale, Police Chief Frank Adderly said his department is spending more time than anticipated in reviewing tapes and preparing evidence files.

Joy Cooper, Mayor of Hallandale Beach, argues that the cameras do help improve safety, and that the legal issues can be sorted out.

Nevertheless, concern over costs has caused Delray Beach and Boca Raton to delay the installation of cameras.

Need we warn you NOT to try this at home?

The statistics, which cover the last two years, will be officially released on Monday by the New York City Department of Transportation, but according to the New York Times, the period in question had the lowest numbers of traffic deaths since the city began keeping records about a hundred years ago.

In 2010, the city noted 269 traffic deaths – up five percent from 2009, when traffic fatalities reached a record low. Deaths of pedestrians declined slightly from 156 two years ago to 151 in 2010, which makes the total 21 percent fewer than were recorded in 2001.

According to the as-yet-unreleased report, London, Paris, and Tokyo had even lower traffic fatality rates than New York City.

One suddenly wonders if there’s an inverse correlation between bad traffic jams and traffic-related deaths.

IIHS president Adrian Lund said, “The cities that have the courage to use red light cameras despite the political backlash are saving lives.”

Researchers compared 99 American cities with populations greater than 200,000, looking at the differences between those with red light cameras and those without. They looked specifically at the number of fatal crashes after the introduction of the red light cameras, which required identifying two specific time periods, 1992-1996 and 2004-2008. Cities that had cameras in the earlier period were excluded from the analysis, as were cities that only had cameras for part of the latter one.

The researchers found that in the fourteen cities that had the cameras during the period from 2004 to 2008, the combined per capita rate of fatal crashes caused by people running red lights fell 35 percent as compared with the 1992-1996 period. In the 48 cities that did NOT have camera programs at all, the fatal crash rate also fell, but only by 14 percent. Based on this data, the IIHS researchers determined that the final rate of fatal red-light-running car crashes was 24 percent lower in the camera-using cities than it would have been without the technology in use.

However, the IIHS is quick to point out that because of the cameras, there was also a fourteen percent drop in all fatal crashes at intersections with signals (not just those from running red lights) and a seventeen percent fewer fatal crashes at intersections with signals in the 2004-2008 period than had been expected in the camera cities, while there was a two percent increase in crashes in cities without cameras.

That translates into 159 fewer deaths because of the automated enforcement programs, and shows that the red light cameras have a huge benefit in reducing all types of fatal crashes at intersections, said a representative from the Institute. They believe that this may be due in part to red light running fatalities being underreported when there are no witnesses, as well as the likelihood that drivers are more cautious when they know there are cameras present.

• Know the Rules: Check with local law enforcement or parks and recreation agencies to know the rules of the place where you plan to ride.
• Dress the Part: Always wear the right gear when riding, including a helmet, warm gloves, sturdy boots, and a wind-resistant outer layer.
• Know Your Equipment: Always check out your snowmobile to make sure it’s in good working order before taking it out. Reviewing the owners manual would not be a bad idea, either.
• Bring a Buddy: Never go snowmobiling alone. Not only is it more fun, it’s also safer to have a friend along.
• Always Be Prepared: Bring along spare spark plugs and a spare belt, as well as the necessary tools to do basic replies, but also carry emergency supplies like a first aid kit, and survival provisions unless you get caught overnight (food, matches, flashlights, hand warmers, and materials to build a shelter).
• Be Alert: Always learn as much as you can about the terrain, weather conditions, and visibility before you start your ride, and never go out if you’re even a little bit impaired by alcohol or drugs.
• Know Your Protection: Just as with any other recreational vehicle, it’s important for snowmobiles to be covered by adequate insurance. You should find a policy that will cover the vehicle, your gear, and liability in case you hurt someone or something.

One more thing to remember is that you’ll want to make sure you let someone know where you’re going and when you’re due back.