Posted on 01/27/2005 4:29:24 PM PST by leadhead
The Virginia Transportation Research Council studied all of the state red light camera programs and found an overall increase in injury accidents.
A brand new, exhaustive study of all seven Virginia red light camera programs shows an overall increase in injury accidents has occured where the devices are installed. The study was performed by The Virginia Transportation Research Council at the request of the state transportation secretary. The report also notes a fatal flaw in the Virginia's camera law -- motorists can ignore any ticket received in the mail. Only tickets that are personally served matter (the same thing happened in Arizona).
Despite a distinct sympathy in favor of camera enforcement, the researchers found a "definite" increase in rear-end accidents and only a "possible" decrease in angle accidents. Most importantly, the net effect was that more injuries happened after cameras are installed. Camera proponents explain this away by asserting angle accidents are more serious, but this claim has not been scientifically studied according to this report. The rear end collisions caused by the cameras still produce injuries -- the original promise of camera proponents was that they would reduce accidents and injuries, not rearrange them.
This study agrees with long-term findings in Australia and North Carolina.
(Excerpt) Read more at thenewspaper.com ...
This increase in accidents can be liad to the fact that people have to re-learn that red means "stop," not "Go ahead if you feel lucky."
I always check the rear view mirror when I stop at an aged yellow or fresh red light.....
I'm not surprised in the least. If I see a camera mounted near a traffic light, then I'm much more likely to slam on the brakes for a yellow then I would be otherwise. Even if it's on say Route 29 and there isn't another car within 5 miles. So you can imagine what happens if people do this in the suburban areas.
Saying that they added the cameras to cut down on accidents is a bit bull. I'm sure the fact that these things have raked in tons of revenue in the places where they've been deployed had nothing to do with it...
Well, duuuhhh!
I'm shocked, SHOCKED that Big Brother would introduce a whole new set of problems.
I always check the cross-traffic when my light turns green. I'm not about to enter the intersection until I check the situation. I do not want to be a in broadside accident.
I thought the sole reason for the cameras was to increase revenue. In San Diego when they installed the cameras they also reduced the length of the yellow light so they could catch people who didn't think the light would turn red so quickly.
When the answer to the question is already known, it becomes the law of unintended stupidity.
A good libertarian economist will suggest that seat belts and air bags have the unintended consequence of making the driver feel more secure, and thereby making the driver less risk-averse in his behavior . . . so there's no way of knowing whether they save lives or cause more accidents than the lives they save. Most people would think twice about taking a chance driving, if the steering column was tipped with a spear point!
interesting
Well this means only one thing. Its time for rear mounted airbags. Children will now have to ride in the trunk.
Please do not make fun of my trusty Valiant and my death wish.
The article fails to address the additional revenue increase to the city from red light runners who are now caught on camera.....and that's what really counts?
Having driven small cars most of my life, I've always been careful. I used to drive VW bugs and the "Idiots Guide" was my Chilton's and more. Although it was very hippy-dippy and dope induced, from this book came the idea "Always drive as if you are tied to the front bumper." While I don't remember it as being a commentary on safe driving (I think it was more about how to drive a fragile car in a gentle fashion), I've always kept that in mind.
I'm finally moving on to bigger vehicles. My VW's led to my Toyota then my Honda... to an Eddie Bauer Ford Explorer. But I still drive that way.
LOL!!!!!
You really HAVE to check oncoming traffic these days due to so many red-lighters. And don't you just 'love' the idiot behind you that honks impatiently cause you don't just blindly rush into the intersection? It's not HIS behind that would be broadsided, after all.
In Houston, it really feels like over half of the motorists haven't got a CLUE about how to drive, much LESS drive defensively. It gets scarier every day. And our insurance rates climb steadily in proportion. If driving is really a privilege (not a right), how come so many are being extended this privilege when they clearly aren't capable (or worthy) of driving?
EOR
There's always a trade off.
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