In cities and towns across the US, red light cameras are being installed for the ostensible purpose of preventing T-bone collisions at intersections, not to mention raking in big bucks from motorists running red traffic lights.
Fines for being caught on camera range from $50 to more than $400, depending on where you live. California is the highest at $490 per violation. In Florida, the fine is $158 per offense. In 2012, Sunshine State drivers caught by the cameras shelled out more than $100 million in fines.
Red light cameras are not only lucrative for many cash-strapped municipalities but for the companies that install and maintain them and receive a piece of each fine. As some Chicago suburbs are finding out, rather than swelling their coffers, the cameras are actually costing them money.
Worse, studies show that there is little to no difference in T-bone collisions at intersections with or without red light cameras. But at intersections with the cameras, there is an increase in rear-end collisions when motorists slam on the brakes to avoid getting caught crossing the intersection when the light changes from yellow to red. Some municipalities have added to the danger of rear-end collisions by decreasing the yellow light time.
Of the 3,086 red light tickets issued in Clermont, Florida, from January 3 to February 11 2,721 (88%) were issued for making a right on red. That brought a steady stream of angry residents to the Clermont, Florida, Council meeting last week, demanding that the tickets be thrown out. According to initial reports, many saw the flash of the camera that was triggered when they rolled onto the stop line, probably for a better line of sight, before coming to a complete stop.
Two state lawmakers, Rep. Frank Artiles (R-Miami) and Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) have filed bills to repeal the red light law.
Yet, companies, such as Lockheed and the now scandal plagued Redflex, accused by a fired executive of bribing officials in 13 states for red light camera contracts, are incentivized to push for installation of more of the cameras.
Using laws to raise revenue is a travesty that results in people having less respect for the laws. Yet, there are municipalities, such as Starke, Florida, that take pride in using motor vehicle violations to balance their budgets.
There is a simple solution to reducing intersection collisions and it doesn’t cost a dime or put a dime into municipal coffers or the pockets of corporations. Extend the time of yellow lights followed by a a few seconds when the lights on both directions turn red, instead of one simultaneously turning red and the other green. Such would better assure the intersection is clear, avoiding both T-bone and rear-end collisions.
Bev Conover is the editor and publisher of Intrepid Report. Email her at editor@intrepidreport.com.
Thumb-ups, Bev. You would think that rulers would know that. Maybe they do. Maybe they just want to make the world go round, like that old song, “money, money, money makes the world go round.”
Sad. Does anyone who is in power care anything at all about human beings>
For that matter, is there any honest business person anymore in this world?
Some times the weight of the world feels very heavy.