DUIs are a huge moneymaker for the state. Got a speeding ticket lately? It’s at least $150 here. It’s all for money.
Living in the People's Republic of South Florida where red-light cameras have become the norm, I concur. Also, I foresee needing more frequent brake jobs since I find myself braking hard for yellow lights.
IMHO, if the DOT would just delay the opposite flow's next green for about 10 seconds, there would be a similar decrease in T-bone crashes.
How to beat a red light camera ticket using the US Constitution
Eschew large cities.
I’m probably reading too much into it, but a minimum of three seconds sounds stupid. How about a safety-based formula based on length of the intersection, and the speed limit through that intersection?
And leave the fedguv out of it.
The minimum seconds between yellow and red was 3 seconds and as long as 6 in the 1970’s and 80’s.
With the introduction of red light camera’s the companies that manufactured and placed them asked city traffic planners to lower the minimum’s or would present their own studies couched in safety but, had extant to the proposal, increased revenue. But, of course, scientific guesses as what the results would be in regards to safety, as in reduced accidents, running down pedestrians, etc.
So forward to today and I can tell you that I know of two lights in Emoryville, CA that had weird intervals. At some points throughout the day they would go from green and flash yellow and of course turn red.
At other times they would allow three vehicles and then turn red but, at no time would they be dependable intervals that local residents could at least become familiar with and for some strange reason “/s” it seems like there are quite a few accidents in those intersections.
Which sucks as those intersections ingress and egress to a major highway which also ingresses and egresses into three other freeways within 3/4 of a mile.
This causes horrendous backups during the regular traffic hours. Whatever that means in the Bay Area but, worsens at rush hour.
There ought to be a national standard, at a minimum or a it should be left to the states but, they should adhere to NTSB standards leaving the other choices to the states and I would be okay with the locales being responsible.
Still, that interval must be the same at all hours so even locals understand the unspoken message and can expect a certain interval at all times.
I have personally seen three red light runners in the last two days. How else would you propose we stop them? Got a solution in mind or just whining about cameras?
So many people slam on the brakes when the light turns red early. No wonder the accident rate goes up. Costs thousands to fix the cars but hey if the City can collect a few hundred its worth it right?
You will find the city of Dallas had an interesting study that may be informative.
They removed their Red Light cameras because revenue went down. People figured where they were and quit running red lights.
Obviously the accident rate went down, but removing the cameras shined a light on the true motivation of the city. The motivation of revenue trumps safety.
I think they are a great tool for safety. I used to run yellow lights but now I slow down and stop as the light turns red. It would be interesting to see the accidents before cameras and the accidents after. I bet they are down a ton.
I used to use my motorcycles for all of my business year-round. The red light cameras in downtown DC worried me because someone was always tailgating me and if I put the binders on they would have flattened me.
I actually ended up running at least two or three red lights (turned red while I was still partially in the intersection) and the radar never triggered with all the plastic on my bikes.
Agreed, all it is is a money raiser for the powers that be. Let’s face it, the job market is down, more people are out of work and/or underemployed, on the dole, etc., so where else can “The Man” get more money from us? So red light cameras are one way and lowering the blood alcohol limit is the other.
No like? No run red lights!
Some years back, I was pulled over for "flashing my lights" at oncoming traffic to warn them about a speed trap that I just passed by. One of the cars I warned happened to be another cop and he spun a 180 and pulled me over immediately.
When he stomped (yes stomped) over to my car, his face was beet red and was so angry he was stammering. He stated that the speed trap was set up to make the roads safer and demanded to know why I would circumvent those efforts by warning others to slow down as they approached it.
I said that I was simply doing my part to help ensure that the motorists slowed down - so as to "improve safety". He wasn't buying it but did have to let me go as he couldn't find anything to ticket me for. But he was so angry at me for getting others to slow down, ruining the opportunity to write them speeding tickets.
These traffic light cameras are even more insidious than cops hiding in bushes with radar guns. I first started noticing them several years ago in places like the Atlanta and Long Island suburbs. Now they are popping up everywhere.