Replies

Houston Mayor Bill White was furious when he saw the report's draft text in August. He banned the document from publication and ordered a re-writing of the text that would reflect a more positive result.

Wow, I thought we had a lock on reptilian politicians here in Taxachusetts. This Mayor White is a Class-A Dirtbag.

And it goes to show that politicians see taxpayers solely as sources of revenue. Their health, safety and suffering are not a consideration if there is tax revenue to be had. Is there a school politicians must attend that teaches them how to lose their humanity?

Houston Mayor Bill White was furious when he saw the report’s draft text in August. He banned the document from publication and ordered a re-writing of the text that would reflect a more positive result. To accomplish this task, White was able to turn to the study’s primary author, Rice University Urban Politics Professor Robert Stein. Stein’s wife, Marty, is employed by the city of Houston as a top aide to the mayor. Stein’s newly revised report now concludes that “red light cameras are mitigating a general, more severe increase in collisions.”

So in other words Bill, you are a lying sack of...

And you want to make a go at the senate seat that may be vacated by Kay Baily Hutchison???

I just don’t think we can trust you there buckwheat...

Wow let's see now. DemocRAT Mayor Billy White blatantly and arrorgantly lies about an important matter that can cause lives to be lost while he is in control. It makes me pause and wonder just what else he would lie about if he were to become the next Jr. U.S. Senator from Texas where he will have a greater incentive to ~~mislead~~ lie to the citizens.?!

To achieve the appearance of success, the study divided red light camera intersections into "non-monitored" approaches -- the directions of travel at the intersection where the red light camera is not looking -- and the "monitored" approaches where ticketing took place. There was a 132 percent increase in collisions at the non-monitored approaches of the intersection where red light cameras were installed and a non-significant 9 percent increase at the monitored approaches. The study treated these increases in both rear end and T-bone collisions as unrelated to the red light camera as long as the accident happened outside of the camera's view.

This was a stupid assumption, especially if the intersections are posted the same as in the Dallas area (or at least the Dallas suburbs).

Here, a sign warns that red-light cameras are in use at all approaches to an intersection. So, even if only one approach actually has the camera in position to record red-light runners, the typical driver doesn't know which one unless they are familiar with the intersection and know what to look for.

If the intersections in Houston are posted on all approaches, it's going to modify the behavior of drivers: they'll stop more often on yellow lights. An increased number of rear-end collisions is the most likely outcome.