Posted on 11/20/2007 6:43:28 AM PST by jim_trent
Figures from program's first 6 months show drop in accidents, tickets
By TANYA EISERER / The Dallas Morning News
Dallas officials believe the city's electronic red-light spies are causing motorists to hit the brakes.
Preliminary statistics show that accidents and citations are drastically down at intersections with red-light cameras during the first six months of the program, according to a report presented to the City Council's public safety committee Monday.
"Police can't be at intersections at all times, but technology can," said Zaida Basora, an assistant director of the city's Public Works and Transportation Department.
In Dallas, nearly 30 percent of all accidents at traffic signals were related to red-light running in 2006. That included 14 fatalities, 75 serious injuries and 487 minor injuries, according to city statistics.
The city's first 17 red-light cameras went online in mid-January. For the first six months, statistics show, T-bone crashes dropped 75 percent and rear-end accidents dipped 57 percent at those intersections.
The city added cameras each month through June and now has 60 operating throughout Dallas.
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
I’m surprised that rear-end accidents would go down with those cameras are put in. I figured that serious T-bones would decrease, but rear-end fender-benders would go up because of people slamming on their brakes.
}:-)4
Out of context that could have a very high giggle factor?
T-bone accidents are much more likely to kill or cripple than rear-end accidents. I was totally against red-light cameras, but now I’m not so sure. I see people running red lights all the time in Dallas, talking on their cell phones and completely self-absorbed in their own importance.
If the city generated the report, then you know it was fudged in favour of the revenue cameras.
They better make sure their yellow light clearance intervals are correct.
I beat a ticket on a poorly timed yellow. The light still isn’t adjusted correctly, I contacted the town, etc.
Got some oceanfront propery in Arizona to sell.
I’d bet people know now they’ll have to stop. So slow down when approaching the intersection on stale greens.
The money from the tickets that is cut for City of Dallas was supposed to "go to area hospitals." That how they sold this thing at the city councle. Does it?
NOPE. It goes to the general fund. And then vanishes.
They did a news piece on this in Dallas, and interviewed the woman whose department oversees these kinds of programs. She said the lights were set according to some national standard, but at the bare minimum allowed.
When the reporter quoted statistics that accidents could be further eliminated (by a large percent) simply by extending the yellow light, she said she didn't think that was necessary. Was kind of snooty about the whole thing. (I did not like her, and wished the reporter would have grilled her more.)
Maybe I should add that I do NOT trust the city of Dallas at all, and believe this is mainly a revenue-generator for them. I just want people to stop running the damn red lights.
“This should have been fought 10 to 15 years ago. It is pretty much a done deal now.”
Only because most people won’t say anything. Its another example of incrementalism. Our children will grow up in a world where there have always been cameras watching your every move.
Oh does this story include details about the company that modified the yellow time so they could increase the number of tickets. By decreasing the amount of time the light spends with the yellow light on drivers dont have adequate time to react and more tickets are given. The company gets a cut of the fine.
“I just want people to stop running the damn red lights.”
Perhaps having a cop there to hand out tickets might accomplish this. BUT having a cop do that doesn’t provide the same revenue. Its not about safety or the children. Its about money.
The worst red light running I have ever seen was in Dallas. I counted 9 cars turning left across my intended path after I had the green. North Dallas - c. 10 years ago.
Here in NM, 3 is the most I’ve counted in the same situation.
Motorists refuse to police themselves.
This is how I research my case, if you’re interested.
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=75766
It’s been 5 years and that light is still poorly timed.
Might be helpful if you get a picture ticket, those lights need to be timed correctly, or at least they should post how many seconds the yellow is before the intersection. Give the drivers a fair warning that they want their money at any cost.
Right. You never want to go as soon as the light turns green. Wait to make sure everyone is stopped before you move or take a chance on getting blasted out of existence. Maybe after these results Lubbock and Amarillo will go ahead with the program. Same problems there as in Dallas. Too big a rush and not paying attention to their driving.
That is what most studies show. This is too short a time to draw any kind of firm conclusions.
The thing about it is that by decreasing T-bones, they also decrease deaths. That is what this is being sold as — a safety device (but I am sure the politicians like the money, too).
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