Red-Light cameras are new to certain Midwestern cities where their purpose is still somewhat controversial. Nationally, it is estimated that 22% of all traffic tickets are for running red lights, which result in major amounts of injury, death, and property damage from accidents. The question prevalent at this time is whether these devices are for improving the safety of the busy intersections, or are they for gathering needed revenue?
How do the cameras work?
The cameras are computer-controlled electronic devices geared to automatically take flash photographs or videos of the vehicles and their license plates as they run yellow or red lights. The basic technology is sophisticated, and requires careful validation before actuating it. The photo-triggering mechanism itself involves carefully placed electromagnetic induction loops under the pavement and painted white lines on top of it, which must be spaced and correlated accurately with the timing of the changing yellow and red lights in question. Presently, a short partial-second grace-period could be included for the benefit of any doubt.
Ticket amounts.
Based on a recent newspaper article, one Midwestern city (area population: one-million) has about 10 cameras in place. It is hurrying to add 10 more. On the average these cameras will gather about 500 violations a day, which must be carefully reviewed by the police department before mailing out the $115 tickets.
This validation work requires extra well-trained personnel, which is costly. The local police department needs another $200,000 annually to do this initial work, which is projected to bring in a gross amount of about $21-million annually for the city. From that amount, the cost of buying and installing these expensive electronic cameras must be paid, not to mention the costs for upkeep, quality control, upgrade replacements, and, in some cases, a percentage to the camera manufacturers. What amount is left for the city could be unknown at this time.
Do drivers learn from it?
Apparently so. One of the initial cameras installed has seen an 80% drop in violations after several weeks of use.
Current controversy.
Most of the current controversy on this traffic-control method involves privacy-invasion and effectiveness issues. Is it legal overkill? Does it really work? Also, certain cities in the U.S. have been accused of shortening the yellow-light times to catch more violators. If true, that action is directly in conflict with published data showing a one-second lengthening of yellow lights reduces violations by 50%, and reduces accidents by 40%. Also, certain newspapers and TV stations are currently monitoring the timing of the yellow lights in their cities.
For these reasons, the National Motorists Association Foundation recommends the following yellow-light times at the given traffic speeds. These calculations are based on formulas gotten from the Institute of Transportation Engineers.
- 25-mph – 3.0 seconds
- 30-mph – 3.5 seconds
- 35-mph – 4.0 seconds
- 40-mph – 4.5 seconds
- 45-mph – 5.0 seconds
- 50-mph – 5.5 seconds
- 55-mph – 6.0 seconds
Conclusion.
After talking with other drivers about how they will drive at camera-equipped intersections, and knowing what this driver will do, plus the expensive complications involved with this technology, these modern red-light cameras undoubtedly will improve the overall safety at the intersections where they are installed in due time. Most of us will either avoid those intersections entirely when possible, or definitely will not run yellow lights not knowing what their timing is ahead of time.
For more information on red-light-camera tickets and how to avoid them, see the following websites.
1. Howstuffworks How Red-light Cameras Work http://www.howstuffworks.com/red-light-camera.htm/printable
2. eHow – How To Do Just About Everything How to Avoid a Speeding or Red Light Camera Ticket http://www.ehow.com/how_4873483_speeding-red-light-camera-ticket.html
***Please Read & Comment – Important Issue*** Colebrookdale Branch Controversy and Photo Show
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