Road fatalities considerably higher into United States than in Europe.
There are many reasons for that: younger minimum driving age, more lenient attitude to wearing seat belts (not even compulsory in New Hampshire), more dangerous road design, and so on. But another reason I have not been aware of until today was that speed cameras and red light cameras are banned in many US states, meaning that there is considerably less incentive for drivers to respect the speed limit.
As of early 2026, roughly 8 to 10 U.S. states have laws that strictly ban or prohibit the use of automated speed cameras. While definitions vary by jurisdiction, the following states maintain the most explicit statutory bans on unmanned speed enforcement systems.
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There are many reasons for that: younger minimum driving age, more lenient attitude to wearing seat belts (not even compulsory in New Hampshire), more dangerous road design, and so on. But another reason I have not been aware of until today was that speed cameras and red light cameras are banned in many US states, meaning that there is considerably less incentive for drivers to respect the speed limit.
As of early 2026, roughly 8 to 10 U.S. states have laws that strictly ban or prohibit the use of automated speed cameras. While definitions vary by jurisdiction, the following states maintain the most explicit statutory bans on unmanned speed enforcement systems.
States with Explicit Bans
These states have laws that generally prohibit the use of automated speed cameras to issue traffic citations.- Maine
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- South Carolina
- Texas (Banned in 2019, though some pre-existing contracts were allowed to expire)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
States with De Facto Bans or Severe Restrictions
In these states, speed cameras are effectively prohibited from operating autonomously due to strict legal requirements.- Nevada: Prohibits photographic enforcement unless a law enforcement officer is physically present at the device to issue the citation.
- Missouri: Following a 2015 State Supreme Court ruling, most programs were halted because they could not prove the vehicle owner was actually the driver.
- Iowa: A 2024 law required strict DOT permits; in late 2025, the majority of city permit requests (including Des Moines) were denied, forcing cameras to be deactivated.
Recent Legislative Updates (2025–2026)
- Louisiana: Effective August 1, 2025, speed cameras are banned statewide except in school zones and at red-light intersections.
- Vermont: Formerly a "no camera" state, Vermont authorized a pilot program for speed cameras in highway work zones starting July 1, 2025.
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