Comments on: Study finds red-light cameras could actually cause more accidents

By: curtastrophe

curtastrophe — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:56:55 +0000

Impulsive you say you don’t have anything to worry about, that’s a joke! The camera’s on the streets is where it starts, then in your house, then in your bedroom. It’s not about safety, it’s about $$$$ money and control don’t you get it, we are living in 1984. Look around you, cameras are everywhere, stores, banks, work places, even dashboards of cop cars. The real issue here is that cities are shortening the length of time the yellow light is on to increase their revenue, that by itself is wrong, wrong, wrong. If you want to live in a country where your rights and freedoms are being taken away then do nothing and feel safe. Myself on the other hand will not stand by while this crap goes on, I will fight for my rights given to me and you by the greatest document ever written, the Constitutution of the United States of America, that my friend is worth fighting for. So if you want to sit this one out, no problem I’ll fight for your rights and mine. But if one day you wake up and decide it’s to late and they’ve taken all your rights away and you don’t like it, please don’t complain to me, deal or no deal?

By: RicardoHead

RicardoHead — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:42:12 +0000

Don’t lump us all in the same boat, Johnny. I can whiz thru roundabouts both in continental europe and in england witht he best of them and I find them both logical and fun.

But even there you only have roundabouts at maybe 2% of intersections overall if that, so lets not pretend there are no traffic lights in Europe.

By: JohnnyBlazE

JohnnyBlazE — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:56:31 +0000

FFS just do roundabouts… I know you Americans find them hard to understand, but they are by far the smartest way around traffic lights, and I revel in the joy I get when I see an American confused by them…

By: Scarface03

Scarface03 — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:42:26 +0000

davebo,
Save your money and don’t buy that reflective paint crap. Mythbusters did an episode and basically busted out all those speed camera myths.

By: Scarface03

Scarface03 — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:39:32 +0000

If the red-light cameras cause accidents, then by extension, traffic lights cause accidents. So people are slamming on their brakes trying to avoid going through the intersection on a yellow light, eh? Listen up, people, everyone should be driving a car with enough space between him and the guy in front of him to allow for the guy ahead of you to panic brake at ANY time, and especially when approaching an intersection, which is where everyone knows the probability of having an accident skyrockets.

Red-light camera tickets, like just about all traffic citations, have safety and revenue-generating components. But make no mistake that red-light cameras are NOT a form of taxation. Everyone pays taxes, not everyone breaks the law. I, like others here, would have no problem if there were a camera at every street light, because I don’t run red lights and I don’t play chicken with yellow lights.

I haven’t read all of the studies, but I think a critical eye, if not skepticism, is in order. When some studies report more fatalities after red-light cameras are installed in a particular intersection, the base line is only a handful of accidents. It’s literally the difference between, for example, 9 fatal accidents one year and 12 the year after red-light cameras are installed. To me that doesn’t automatically signal a socially irresponsible law any more than it does a year with one more frat party in it.

By: bigp

bigp — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:21:06 +0000

yes that true because when the lights by my house on u.s.441 nin fort lauderdale, before the camerars an yellow lights would mean the gas is to the floor to get throw it now its only brake lights and accident. i hate those things

By: autonut

autonut — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:48:31 +0000

Any camera on the road is not for safety (how it make you safer?) but for additional taxation. IN my neck of the woods state nazis (troopers) have quota to fulfill. Don’t drive on interstates at the end of the months – they are pissed off and ready to ticket for any(no) reason. Arguing with a lying cop in court is useless – he is an officer of the same court.

By: 1c3d0g

1c3d0g — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 11:35:40 +0000

I hate traffic lights. At intersections they should just make an over/underpass, viaduct or come up with another solution. Traffic lights are not the way to go, it’s a lazy man’s way to solving a traffic problem.

By: Impulsive

Impulsive — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 02:38:41 +0000

Ummmm, ‘visuelz’, 65 in a Porsche may not be an issue but what happens when something unexpected happens? You blow a tire in your Excursion on the ramp at 55 and you may be looking at a rollover. Anyway, the issue here is red light cameras, not ramp speeds.

As for your stopping abruptly to avoid the person in front of you … you’re cheating yourself by driving one car length behind … it’s your fault no matter what excuse you try and provide when you hit someone, period.

By: visuelz

visuelz — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 02:20:34 +0000

impulsive – I respectfully disagree with your statement about engineering studies. There are exit ramps that says 35 mph, but I can easily take them at 60 mph.

I do not like cameras. They have cause people to stop extremely hard. This causes me to brake even harder when I am behind them. I keep 1 car distance away from the person in front of me when going on local roads. That’s already a lot of room.

By: Driven

Driven — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:27:47 +0000

MercMark, sounds like the movie Demolition Man. I dont like the cameras as it is. Although I do believe the ASU studies that were done in a state with the highest amount of cameras anywhere. Including highway, intersection red light, intersection speed, permanent roadway speed and random (van) roadway speed. There studies seem more intensive than the one at University of South Florida covering a smaller amount of red light only (not including intersection speed) cameras.

By: MercMark

MercMark — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:10:02 +0000

Just put a credit card reader in every car. As you drive it deducts money for every infraction. Follow too closely-$50; No turn signal-$25 etc the Government will make a fortune!… I mean we’ll be much safer.
Have the car drive itself to the impound lot if you’re over your credit limit.

By: Impulsive

Impulsive — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:14:50 +0000

‘driver54′ and anyone else … the entire concept of being allowed to drive anything over the limit is a joke to begin with. If engineering studies can show a maximum speed limit, it should be followed. More so at intersections where accidents with left-lane turning can be horrific.

I couldn’t care less if there were cameras at EVERY intersection … I have nothing to worry about.

And the issue of the money as a penalty is no issue at all … if society as a whole never broke the law at these intersections, government wouldn’t have any revenue and would have to look elsewhere … but as long as there are dolts willing to pay into the system, I say milk the monkeys for all you can get.

By: Driven

Driven — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:07:37 +0000

Studies done in California and Arizona have the exact opposite results. The deadliest intersection for red light deaths was in Phoenix, AZ. A speed & red light camera at that intersection reduced accidents and deaths. Red light cameras in CA have also reduced fatalities. Speed cameras on Arizona highways has increased accidents but decreased the severity of the accidents. One study done by ASU shows accidents on highway 101 went up slightly. Most were fender benders and none were fatalities. In the three years before the cameras there were 9 fatalities on the same stretch of road.

As for revenue generation its definitely a by product of the system. In the case of Arizona most of the revenue is taken by the red light camera operating companies and not the municipalities. The governments get a very small percentage of the revenue. ATS & RedFlex, the leaders in camera technology get a vast majority of the revenue.

By: gooch02000

gooch02000 — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:06:45 +0000

SwerveEarly and davebo speak the truth. It has nothing to do with safety whatsoever, and any of you who think it does needs to become a little more skeptical of your government. It’s about making money, pure and simple. Now that we have that out of the way, there is no need for these cameras. If it was widely proven that they actually kept motorists safe, and the fines were not astronomical, then this would make more sense. But alas, it does not.

By: davebo

davebo — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:03:24 +0000

I’m with SwerveEarly, I don’t want foreign interests (or even that huge speed camera company in Texas) deciding how much I get charged. If its safety that’s one thing, but these companies bilk us for all they can get. I haven’t gotten a speed camera ticket yet, just warnings when they put a bunch of new ones in montgomery county, md last year.
The latest camera tickets you if you’re 10 over in a 35 zone, so of course everyone comes over the hill, slams the brakes down to 25, goes through then speeds up. It’s completely disruptive and I don’t see why people can’t just keep driving at 40 through them or slow down to 34. Are you afraid you’re going to get a ticket for going 34 in a 35 zone??

Also, I recall hearing once about some sort of reflective paste you can paint over your license plate so the flash at night will make it impossible to read. Anyone know anything about that?

By: Get Real

Get Real — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:01:45 +0000

Here in Ga the state government wants to let private companies build toll roads.

Exactly where is our gasoline tax money going ?????

By: SwerveEarly

SwerveEarly — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:50:38 +0000

WARNING, our state and local governments are tapping every possible source of revenue they can.
Companies are lobbying for the right to make money off the public, while promising your local govt huge income. All in the name of safety supported by weak unproven statistics. Toll roads are being sold to foreign interests, with no compete clauses. Some Toll deals state the govt cant even improve alternate or competing roads, and can increase their charge at will. Think about that **** next time your sitting in traffic. We must fight every camera, every new tax, every toll road.

By: livelyjay

livelyjay — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:48:06 +0000

I’m neither for nor against the cameras because there aren’t any installed around here. The point I was making is the cameras are not causing the accidents, moronic drivers are. The only way I can see it being the fault of the cameras is if the yellow light is so short that it makes it impossible to make it through the intersection. I have heard rumors that the yellows are purposefully set short so they can ticket more people. If it’s used as a fund raiser, as Get Real touched on, then I’m against it. If it’s used as a safety device, then I’m for it. My guess is in most cases they are used as fund raisers.

By: Get Real

Get Real — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:39:33 +0000

Make the fine $700 and watch the cameras dissappear.

Make people pay for endangering my life.

DON’T use it as a fund-raiser.

By: driver54

driver54 — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:16:19 +0000

ok impulsive, then they might as well put speed cameras everywhere and give out tickets for even 1 mile over since the speed limit is the rule.

By: Impulsive

Impulsive — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:03:36 +0000

‘Livelyjay’ wins the prize … the rest of you write-offs can cry to momma.

Follow the rule, because you’re nobody special, and all is well. Break the rule and you should pay DEARLY … I’d up the fine to something obscene … better than putting you in jail.

By: F3INT))AP3X

F3INT))AP3X — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:44:57 +0000

livejay I can see where your coming from but still nobody likes the cameras. Also as you can see you are against the crowd on this one, I’d suggest reforming your opinion on the subject unless you want to be the center of constant ridicule for being pro-camera. (Not to necessarily say that you are pro-camera but you didn’t state that you are against them either)

By: S o c i a l i s m

S o c i a l i s m — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:43:36 +0000

At least in San Diego the cameras are privately operated and the owners get a commission for each ticket issued (I believe it’s $70 or $75 per issuance). Tickets from these cameras are between $270 and $320.

By: A4

A4 — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:36:13 +0000

traffic circles ought to be replacing every light, especially at small intersections with one lane. The large circles can be confusing when multiple lanes get involved but throw one in a low volume four way and its nice

By: livelyjay

livelyjay — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:35:40 +0000

Maybe if dumbasses wouldn’t follow so close and pay attention to what was happening AHEAD of the car in front of them it wouldn’t be a problem. Oh, but don’t blame it on the people that don’t know how to drive, blame it on the cameras.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:32:38 +0000

I have nothing against traffic cameras at intersections, but only when they are used as an aid to to accident investigation- not as a cash cow. It pisses me off that all levels of government consider the average motorist as their own personal lottery ticket because they know people have to drive.

By: jumpoffit

jumpoffit — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:52:03 +0000

we have them here to- you get too freaking nervous if you’re coming up to an intersection with the light green, you get closer then before you think you’re going to make it- the yellow pops up and then you got’a decide quick, go? or slam on brakes? then we got tight asses here, if you try to make a turn at the red light you HAVE to come to a complete stop and not a rolling stop or you’ll get a ticket. ghey

By: S o c i a l i s m

S o c i a l i s m — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:49:15 +0000

Big Brother knows what is best. You shall submit.

By: Pauly

Pauly — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:47:05 +0000

I hate traffic lights. In Upstate New York where I live traffic circles are all the rage now, at least in the suburbs, but they have their own set of problems as well–like people not knowing how they work. Oy vey!

By: Leftlane News Chief Editor

Leftlane News Chief Editor — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:42:34 +0000

Ah yes, the “Road Of Florida.” I thought only Canada has one road.

By: christianboy10

christianboy10 — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:39:33 +0000

yes get rid of those stupid things