Do Red Light Cameras Help?
from the not-so-easy... dept
We've had a number of stories about problems with speed cameras, but similar problems apply to red light cameras as well. Of course, the biggest question is whether or not these cameras help make the roads safer. The problem is that the incentive of those installing the cameras is often to maximize revenue. Thus, they choose locations that are high traffic -- but not necessarily dangerous. In some cases, such as in San Diego, it turned out that officials reduced the length of the yellow light on traffic lights where speed cameras were positioned, in order to create more violations. While studies have shown that locations that have red light cameras do reduce side impact accidents, they increase rear impact accidents, because people slam on the brakes to avoid getting caught by the camera. The net effect, however, is in dispute. Some say that the reduction in side impact crashes outweighs slower rear impact crashes -- which may be true. Of course, if officials really want to stop side impact crashes from people running red lights, it seems there's a much simpler and more effective solution. Some locations do this, but I've never understood why it's not more popular: have a period of time when lights in both directions are red. That is, when the lights for one roadway turns red, don't immediately turn the cross traffic lights green. Give it a second, allowing the stragglers to get through, and then let the other traffic go. Of course, if this were all about safety that's what would happen -- and it's pretty clear that safety is coming second to revenue in many of these cases.
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Adaptive behavior
My city (and others in the area) have now wired all major intersections to provide a supplemental light tied to the red signals - so a policeman who can't see the signal itself can readily tell when it's red, and thus has the information needed to make traffic stops. Unfortunately, they're also starting to look at cameras, but based on driver behavior around here, I'm inclined to think the good outweighs the bad.
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No Subject Given
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Studies
Likewise, the cities that commission studies that find magic decreases in angle collisions often exploit intersections where other engineering improvements were made. E.g., at a few intersections in San Diego they lengthened, not shortened, the yellow. Guess what? Huge benefits there. And, no, the benefits never went away.
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Cities with red light cameras == revenue stream
ONly ones who made out there were the lawyers and the builders who have covered the countryside with sidewalks and cute wheelchair ramps and have fulfilled a lot of local politicians dreams of breaking up concrete and pouring concrete.
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No Subject Given
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Re: Red Light Cameras
Have you ever thought that maybe the DRIVER's are to blame for those rear-end accidents? Isn't it the driver's responsibility to follow at a safe distance, so that if need be, they can stop without hitting the car in front of them?
Check out the data from North Carolina - one of the states with the most red light cameras.
http://www.stopredlightrunning.com/html/newsrelease_011905.htm
" The results showed right-angle accidents were reduced by 42 percent at red-light camera intersections, with a 25 percent reduction in rear-end accidents Total red-light related accidents dropped by 22 percent."
Maybe we need to follow the direction of North Carolina & put in MORE red-light cameras.
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Re: Re: Red Light Cameras
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David Cross
Knoxville Tennessee
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Re: Knoxville red light cams
He also stated some concerns about a private company receiving revenue from these cameras, while using public assets (Local law enforcement, and courts) to collect the monies.
There is (or was) a law suit challenging the authority of this company, (based in Ohio I think) to decide the guilt of those getting the tickets.
I received one ticket in the mail about a light on Clinton Highway, and at the same time received another (separate) letter stating that the light had fouled up, and that I did not have to pay the fine.
I received a second ticket from a light on Ashville highway, and ended up paying it, because I could not get off from work that day to contest it.
The first light, turned yellow as I was approaching it, but immediately flipped red less than a second later.
The second ticket on Ashville highway only gave me 3-4 seconds warning between the yellow and the red light on a highway with a posted speed limit of 55 MPH, not nearly enough time to stop, although I tried my best to do so.
It's a good thing that there were no vehicles immediately behind me either time, or I would have been rear-end as I tried to stop for these lights, not because I was doing anything wrong, but because the cameras were fouled up.
When I was in court, I pointed out to the Judge that there were red light cameras on Lovell road, and that they were falsely recording red light volitions there also. Because there are two large truck stops on Lovell, the cameras were recording violations of cars going thru the red lights while following large trucks with their trailers. The problem was not that people were “sneaking” thru the lights behind the trucks, but that a driver in a car could not see the traffic light when he is behind a large trailer, until after the light has turned red. The cameras did not delineate the difference between the two, and many drivers paid for violations that they were not guilty of. Since then, one of the cameras has been taken down, and I think the other one has been disabled. These lights were installed all over the city along with the Mayor’s statement that not only would the lights pay for themselves, but would actually generate revenue as well.
I, for one, am less than impressed, either with his motives, or the results.
What is needed here is not an "increase in awareness that the cameras are there", but better planed intersection/traffic light combinations that allow the greatest opportunity to obey the laws, not break the laws.
(p.s. we need to remove the greed factor as well, private companies should not ever, under any circumstances ever, NEVER ! profit from unlawful activity, even when someone else is breaking the law)
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Red Light Cameras in Knoxville
The debate is Hot & Heavy and I invite you to tune in. On my Sunday Car Concerns you can catch the show via Internet Stream @ wlac.com staring at 10:00 AM (CST) on Sunday.
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stop or go
Had there actually been a traffic light camera on that intersection, I could at least go home with a bit of peace of mind that they were going to get punished.
In my successful attempt to avoid impact, I almost got rear-ended.
Sure, once these traffic light cameras first get installed there are going to be people that remember at the last second that there is a camera on the intersection, therefore slam on their brakes and get hit. There are still two people at fault there. Because of the lack of familiarity with the cameras their judgment is delayed. I bet if you look at the statistics in the long run you'll find that both accident incidents decrease the longer the cameras are installed. Do you not have the same knee jerk reaction when you see a cop at the intersection?
What needs to happen is an increase in awareness that the cameras are there. That way traffic in general will begin to abide.
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Of course it's about the money
Governments are like drug stores. They'll sell anything that makes you think they're helping you but really they're just trying to make a buck. That's not to say there aren't decent drug stores, but it's still business.
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Money in the bank
http://www.cleveland.com/budgetcrisis/index.ssf?/budgetcrisis/more/1107167417174330.html
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Don't have to worry about that here in Adelaide
What I would like to see is a modification to the system so taht if there are very few cars around (based on the vehichle sensors at lights), they swithc to flashing amber (indicating give way) on the side road and green on the main, so that the junction beocmes uncontrolled at night, when there is little traffic about. The other improvement would be the introduction of Red-Amber, where for a couple of seconds, the lights display both red and amber, indicating that the lights are about to vchange but you may not take off yet. THis means that on junctions with complex light sequences you do not sit aroung waiting for the drivers in front to realise that the lights have changed. THis system is used in the UK, but not in Maryland or in South Australia.
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Red Light Class Action
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lights that r red
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red-light cameras
Remember, Big Brother is watching you with his hand out.
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Red Light Traffic Cameras in New York
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The New World Order
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Re: red light cameras
I hope three things happen to you: First I hope you get a $50 summons in the mail for running a YELLOW LIGHT like I did - as clearly shown in the photos I received. Next I hope your appeal is denied by a kangaroo court and crooked judge. Finally, when you get back on the road and reach the same intersection, I hope you try to stop for the YELLOW light and get rear-ended by an asshole with no insurance. It all happened to me. Both cars were totaled. I was taken to the hospital. BTW, I hope it all happens with your kids in the back seat. Have a nice day!
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A law should be fullproof,this one isn't even close...
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