Poll Shows Strong National Support for ‘Red-Light Cameras’

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In a recent national survey of voters, Public Opinion Strategies found that fully 69% of Americans support the use of “red-light cameras” at the most dangerous intersections in their states, while just 29% oppose them.

Those voters “strongly” supporting red-light cameras outnumber those who strongly oppose them by a wide 45%-18% margin.

Neil Newhouse, one of the founding partners of Public Opinion Strategies, noted that “support for these red-light cameras is not only very strong nationally, but cuts across all demographic and attitudinal groups, including men and women, young and old, Republicans and Democrats, and conservatives and liberals.”

The survey also showed that while support for red-light cameras is very high, voters believe that their support is not shared by others. By a 47%-41% margin, voters believe that most residents in their state oppose red-light cameras, providing evidence of a “disconnect” between voters’ actual attitudes on the issue and their perception of how other voters feel.

“This is a stunning result. Rarely in public opinion research do you find voter attitudes so at odds with what they believe others think. These red-light camera supporters are truly the ‘silent majority,’ while opponents might be described as a vocal minority.”

The national survey was based on telephone interviews with 800 likely voters, conducted April 19-22, 2009. The results are subject to a margin of sampling error of approximately plus or minus 3.46 percent.

Public Opinion Strategies (POS) is a national political and public affairs research firm. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, POS is the Republican partner for the NBC/WSJ Poll and was named “Pollster of the Year” by the trade publication “Campaigns and Elections.”

    N1.   Do you support or oppose the use of red-light cameras to detect
          red-light runners and enforce traffic laws in your state's most
          dangerous intersections?

           45%       STRONGLY SUPPORT
           24%       SOMEWHAT SUPPORT
           11%       SOMEWHAT OPPOSE
           18%       STRONGLY OPPOSE

            2%       DON'T KNOW
            *        REFUSED

           69%       TOTAL SUPPORT
           29%       TOTAL OPPOSE

    N2.   And, setting aside your personal opinion of red-light cameras, do
          you think that most residents in your state support or oppose the
          use of red-light cameras to ensure traffic safety?

           41%       MOST SUPPORT
           47%       MOST OPPOSE

           12%       DON'T KNOW
            *        REFUSED

SOURCE Public Opinion Strategies