RED-LIGHT CAMERAS may be causing accidents in D.C.:

The District’s red-light cameras have generated more than 500,000 violations and $32 million in fines over the past six years. City officials credit them with making busy roads safer.

But a Washington Post analysis of crash statistics shows that the number of accidents has gone up at intersections with the cameras. The increase is the same or worse than at traffic signals without the devices.

Three outside traffic specialists independently reviewed the data and said they were surprised by the results. Their conclusion: The cameras do not appear to be making any difference in preventing injuries or collisions.

They’re certainly not helping, except at the revenue desk:

AAA and other critics have accused the city of installing cameras in high-volume locations where they could generate thousands of tickets, regardless of how many accidents happened there.

Indeed.

UPDATE: Prof. Bainbridge writes: “This finding is consistent with other studies about which I’ve blogged in the past. In my book, these instruments of the devil are just a tax on drivers.”