00:00Did you know that the cost of maintaining lifeguard cameras in Bogotá rose by almost 700% in just 4 years?
00:06while almost half of them were turned off or vandalized as of June of this year?
00:11Or that while road deaths in Bogotá increased by 33% in 2026,
00:16Did they decrease by up to 30% in corridors with active cameras?
00:20Today we ask ourselves, do traffic cameras really save lives or are they just a money-making machine?
00:26Bogotá prepares to install new photo-detection cameras amid a tense national debate
00:31and an alarming increase in deaths from road accidents.
00:34Despite public discontent, the most recent studies in the corridors where these devices operate
00:40They show extremely favorable results in terms of road safety for the capital.
00:44The system, operated by the District Secretariat of Mobility since December 2019,
00:49It began with a pilot program in key corridors such as Avenida Boyacá, the Autopista Norte, and Avenida de las
00:55Americas.
00:56José II López, a researcher at WRI and linked to the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety,
01:02It highlights that each camera in the city has rigorous technical support.
01:06and authorization from the National Road Safety Agency based on objective risk criteria.
01:11The statistics support the effectiveness of the system.
01:14In sections monitored by lifeguard cameras, fatalities have been reduced by up to 30%.
01:19with specific decreases of 21% on Avenida Boyacá and 19% on the Autopista Norte.
01:25However, the paradox lies in the fact that the overall situation in Bogotá is worsening.
01:29registering a 33% increase in road deaths between January and June 2026 compared to the previous year,
01:35with 4,623 serious accidents reported to the May Cutoff.
01:39Political and social discontent is fueled by the accusations of councilwoman Rocío Duzán,
01:44who revealed that equipment maintenance costs increased by 687% between 2021 and 2025,
01:51reaching 1.664 billion pesos, and the calibration increased by 981%, reaching 1.044 billion pesos.
02:00The most critical issue is that 43% of the authorized cameras, 35 out of 81,
02:05They were out of service due to vandalism or lack of physical installation.
02:09Despite strong resistance from drivers and the tense political climate,
02:13The Ministry of Mobility defends the system as an indispensable mechanism of a safe system
02:18and the installation of five new photo-enforcement locations at critical points has already begun
02:22of Necoese Avenue, Americas Avenue and El Dorado Avenue.
02:26Currently, Bogotá has 99 cameras authorized by the National Security Agency
02:31Roads. 18 more will be added in the coming months. Analysts agree that the city faces a challenge.
02:36It's not just about installing more technology, but about rebuilding public trust and demonstrating
02:41that the true success of the system is not in generating billions in revenue, but in ensuring that the final collection
02:46Let it be zero. And what do you think? Do you believe that lifeguard cameras really protect citizens?
02:50Or is its purpose purely to raise funds? Leave your comments and share this video to continue the debate.
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