Degree Name

Department

Mathematics

College

Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Defense Date

2025-03-05

Publication Date

2025-03-17

First Faculty Advisor

Dr. Emily Leslie

First Faculty Reader

Dr. Lars Lefgren

Honors Coordinator

Dr. Mark Showalter

Keywords

Red Light Camera

Abstract

The number of traffic-related fatalities in the United States is 2.3 times higher than the average rate of 28 other high-income countries (Yellman 2022). Some municipalities have implemented Red Light Camera Systems (RLCSs) to improve intersection safety. However, the effectiveness of these cameras is a topic of ongoing debate, and recent policy shifts have resulted in their widespread removal (Ebeling, 2013). This study investigates the causal impact of a statewide ban on RLCSs in Texas, focusing on how the deactivation of these cameras affects intersection-level crash frequency. Utilizing a difference-in-differences framework, we compare intersections impacted by the ban with those that were not. The findings are not statistically significant. However, the large confidence intervals include economically significant effects.