red-light cameras
Research Shows Red-Light Cameras Work
By Larry Copeland
USA Today
(Feb. 15) - Surveillance cameras at major intersections dramatically reduce the number of drivers who barrel through red lights, two new research reports say.
The findings come as debate about the controversial devices continues a decade after they were introduced. The battles include a proposal to ban the cameras here in Georgia, litigation in at least three states and legislative efforts to permit them in six other states.
The cameras automatically photograph vehicles that drive into intersections after the light turns red. Vehicle owners are then mailed citations instructing them to pay a fine or sign an affidavit that they weren't driving at the time.
More than 850 people die and and about 170,000 are injured each year in crashes caused by drivers running red lights, the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration says.
Researchers studied the effectiveness of red light cameras in Philadelphia and Virginia Beach.
The Philadelphia study, conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an industry group, examined red light violations using a two-step approach. First, researchers found that violations dropped by 36% after yellow lights were extended to give drivers more warning that the light was about to turn red. After red light cameras were added, remaining violations dropped by 96%.
"There's a dramatic change in driver behavior when red light cameras are used," says Richard Retting, senior transportation safety engineer for IIHS. "The jury is in on that question."
"That's a huge jump," says lead researcher Bryan Porter, an associate professor of psychology at Old Dominion. "The rate of red light running was actually higher" than before the cameras were installed.
The popularity of the cameras is growing rapidly despite oppostion that centers on constitutional grounds. About 250 communities around the USA use the devices, according to the Insurance Institute. Just 10 years ago, only New York and San Francisco had them.
Opponents say the cameras deny drivers their right to confront their accusers in court and are a ploy by local governments to raise revenue.
"There is a lot of money to be made with them," says Howard Bass, a Minnesota attorney who successfully challenged Minneapolis' red-light camera system in a case that will be argued before the state Supreme Court next month. "Ultimately, this is an issue that may have to be decided in the court of public opinion rather than courts of law. It's a public policy issue of how much surveillance creep we will tolerate in the 21st century."
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Anyone who has ever driven in Europe knows all about cameras posted at busy intersections and dangerous curves. They work. You never know when a mobil camera could be set up around a blind curve, drivers are much more attentive to speed limits, even in country areas. Sure wish we had them here.
By Larry Copeland
USA Today
(Feb. 15) - Surveillance cameras at major intersections dramatically reduce the number of drivers who barrel through red lights, two new research reports say.
The findings come as debate about the controversial devices continues a decade after they were introduced. The battles include a proposal to ban the cameras here in Georgia, litigation in at least three states and legislative efforts to permit them in six other states.
The cameras automatically photograph vehicles that drive into intersections after the light turns red. Vehicle owners are then mailed citations instructing them to pay a fine or sign an affidavit that they weren't driving at the time.
More than 850 people die and and about 170,000 are injured each year in crashes caused by drivers running red lights, the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration says.
Researchers studied the effectiveness of red light cameras in Philadelphia and Virginia Beach.
The Philadelphia study, conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an industry group, examined red light violations using a two-step approach. First, researchers found that violations dropped by 36% after yellow lights were extended to give drivers more warning that the light was about to turn red. After red light cameras were added, remaining violations dropped by 96%.
"There's a dramatic change in driver behavior when red light cameras are used," says Richard Retting, senior transportation safety engineer for IIHS. "The jury is in on that question."
"That's a huge jump," says lead researcher Bryan Porter, an associate professor of psychology at Old Dominion. "The rate of red light running was actually higher" than before the cameras were installed.
The popularity of the cameras is growing rapidly despite oppostion that centers on constitutional grounds. About 250 communities around the USA use the devices, according to the Insurance Institute. Just 10 years ago, only New York and San Francisco had them.
Opponents say the cameras deny drivers their right to confront their accusers in court and are a ploy by local governments to raise revenue.
"There is a lot of money to be made with them," says Howard Bass, a Minnesota attorney who successfully challenged Minneapolis' red-light camera system in a case that will be argued before the state Supreme Court next month. "Ultimately, this is an issue that may have to be decided in the court of public opinion rather than courts of law. It's a public policy issue of how much surveillance creep we will tolerate in the 21st century."
______________________________________________________________________
Anyone who has ever driven in Europe knows all about cameras posted at busy intersections and dangerous curves. They work. You never know when a mobil camera could be set up around a blind curve, drivers are much more attentive to speed limits, even in country areas. Sure wish we had them here.
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These cameras were never installed to make the roads safer. If the roads are, in fact a bit safer, then it's just a by-product of politicians' inherent greed and disingenuine nature. It's really all about milking the cash cow, fattening the municipal coffers and deluding the citizenry into thinking that they've done something very good. For my money, give me a cop anyday. A cop sees many other things that cameras don't.
Wait and see. The car insurance companies will become cash-paying third parties to ALL of the camera flashes of the license plates - even if no summons was mailed and no ticket was paid - just so that they have proof of a car's license plate(s) because that's what they actually insure.
Bingo! Watch the insurance rates go up with a casual letter explaining that the car was photographed doing blah, blah on such and such a date and on this street.... It's coming and when it does, remember that I told you first.[;)][:D]0 -
The reason cameras are installed, is not to deter crime, it is to generate revenue. When the presence of LEOs is increased, crimes and accidents go down. That has been proven in several studies.
When cameras are installed you take the LEO out of the picture and also take out the LEO's right to use his judgment. You also take away the right of the ticketed person to face his accuser, so agencies have used the civil process to thwart this part of the process.
Also the way the cameras are programed has to be monitored. In San Diego several thousand tickets were thrown out because the private company, that set up the system wanted to make more money (they were paid by the ticket), so they hedged when the camera took the picture and generated several thousand false tickets.
This venue of technology in law enforcement is not acceptable in my opinion. It takes away the human element in law enforcement and there no acceptable safeguards in place to keep abuses from taking place.0 -
The other morning at 4am, i'm the only one on the road and am already stopped at the light... all the sudden bright flashes start going off for like 4 seconds. I finally figure out it's the traffic lights taking pictures of nothing, cause no one was in the intersection, and I had already been stopped at the light for 10 seconds, no other cars were within 1000yards... it wasn't taking my picture either but i think my lights set it off??? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by big mango
sig232:
Just pokin' you with a stick , bud. Guess it worked !
Not a problem just thought folks did not know about this product. It isn't cheap but then one ticket today will buy about ten cans of the stuff. (I hope it works).
It will only work until the cameras become more advanced and have the ability to focus, then the game is over.0 -
I think red light cameras are actually LESS intrusive into ones life. Everyone knows that the police use ordinary traffic stops for vehicle violations as a means to investigate other crimes, interogate citizens, do warrant checks, gun checks and drug checks, This substantially increases your risk of being arrested for running a red light. However, if you are merely captured by a camera running a red light there is no police officer involved and you basically have no chance of being arrested on any other charges.
I'd much rather have an "eye in the sky" ticket me for every traffic infraction then be pulled over by a real live police officer.0 -
Why not just mandate a GPS system in every car, and when you exceed the speed limit, you're mailed a citation (and not the good kind)?
Hertz has done this, what would stop Big Brother?0 -
quote:Originally posted by spanielsells
Hertz has done this, what would stop Big Brother?
Voters. They see the difference, thus our current laws.0 -
quote:Originally posted by RunForest
quote:Originally posted by spanielsells
Hertz has done this, what would stop Big Brother?
Voters. They see the difference, thus our current laws.
You assume that voters are smart and intelligent. Most of them aren't, sad to say.0 -
How can you ticket the owner? Can you place the owner in the car? Are the cameras that clear that they can prove the guy in the baseball cap is me?
B.S.
I want my jury trial.0 -
1) Do not reply to the troll, please, for the good of the forum.
2)Pay attention to what Feenix said about London. It is not just there, but all over the country. If you think that this isn't one step away from constant monitoring of individuals, then you are pretty naive.
D.0 -
What happens when something goes wrong and the lights at an intersection flash red for all incoming traffic? Does the camera still keep taking pictures? 0 -
Besides the additional respect I receive when I need to merge, this is yet another great reason to justify wearing my full crash helmet when I drive. 0 -
I personally would applaud if someone started shooting them out--being very careful of what's behing his target of course. They're just another divice to make us all obey the letter of the law, regardless of time of day or night and conditions. 0
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