Red-light runners caught red-handed ( Shorter Yellow Lights ? )

SignOnSanDiego ^ | June 13, 2009 | Wendy Fry

[george76]

8,261 tickets issued in less than a year.

The red-light-camera program dates to 1996, but has not run continuously because of legal and contractual issues. The city now has 12 cameras online and is preparing to activate three more.

In late 2007, the City Council approved the current three-year, $4.5 million contract with American Traffic Solutions of Scottsdale, Ariz., which installs and maintains the cameras and processes photos. “In both management and technology, this program has improved by leaps and bounds,” said San Diego police Sgt. Joe Bane...

the cameras have generated more tickets than anticipated, and the extra money goes into the city budget...

Though police tout the program as a method for reducing fatal and dangerous traffic collisions, accidents at Grape and North Harbor actually increased slightly under the program.

There were zero collisions at the intersection during the 12 months before the original installation of the $100,000 camera in 2004 and two rear-end accidents in the 12 months after installation

[george76]

Revenue generators for government budgets.

Accident rates went up.

.

[eyedigress]

The sped up the yellow/red transition in TN also.

http://www.motorists.org/blog/6-cities-that-were-caught-shortening-yellow-light-times-for-profit/

[Erik Latranyi]

Revenue generators for government budgets.

Accident rates went up.

Facts be damned.

[pnh102]

The city council should be held responsible for any accidents that are caused by illegally shortened traffic lights. If a local government wants to use traffic light or speed cameras then all of the laws must be obeyed to the letter.

[rawhide]

No mention of shorter yellow lights in the article. I thought I was reading an advertisement for these things, after reading the article.

[george76]

Red-light Cameras Increase Crashes,

Rather than improving motorist safety, red-light cameras significantly increase crashes and are a ticket to higher auto insurance premiums

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080311151159.htm

[shalom aleichem]

Right. Red light cams are a scam and do cause accidents. Local governments get sucked in by the foreign promoters. A big company called Red Flex is based in Australia although they pretend to be from Phoenix AZ. They also use the “data” from 24/7 monitoring of motorists license plates with a direct access to state motor vehicles bureaus, including home addresses and personal information on motorists. It is a huge problem.

Needless to say, Mr. Obama likes red light cameras.

[truemiester]

I thouhgt a ‘red light runner’ was a guy who did not pay his ‘date’.

SO what kind of ‘red light’ are you talking about?

[Francis McClobber]

This is a reintroduction of red lights in San Diego. We had them years ago, but were taken down because of a yellow light controversy.

As for increased accidents, I have seen studies that say there is no significant increase in accidents.

I drive through two of the traffic light intersections on a daily basis and have done so for years. In my own commuting experience I have observed that when the lights were introduced, the traffic flow smoothed and the intersections remained clear. When they were taken away, the traffic flow stopped and the intersections clogged.

Now that they are back in operation, the traffic flow is smoother and the intersections are clear.

[Logical me]

Communists America at work again. The yellow should be lengthen if really interested in safety.

[Natural Law]

I got a ticket from one of these things at an intersection I have driven for 30 years. The ailed citation said I entered the intersection in the right turn lane 0.13 sec after the light turned red at 8 miles per hour. It was 10:30 at night and I was the only car on the road. I paid the $271 fine and attended the traffic school (another scam) and did some research. The contractor had changed the yellow light time to the absolute legal minimum, shortening it by over a full second. I checked the light out with a stop watch and found that the light would randomly, every 10 or 20 cycles, shave the legal time by over a half a second. I'm pissed at my city and the red light camera company, but I just don't have the time and money to to fight it.

[rwfromkansas]

communist.

[Francis McClobber]

Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?

[rwfromkansas]

Towns that install these things intentionally shorten the yellow times. It is not about safety, but revenue, moron.

Thankfully there aren’t any in my town.

[Iscool]

Ottawa County, Michigan...I drive thru there daily...The yellow lights are so short, I’ve watched 18 wheelers and and school busses full of kids run red lights (lights red before they made it to the intersection)...

I have run red lights numerous times...There is no time to stop without squealing your tires in many cases...Once a semi-trailer went around me thru the turning lane to run a red light with his air horn blasting to avoid rear ending me for slamming on my brakes trying to make the yellow light...

Traffic accidents in this county are very high...

[Francis McClobber]

I see you went to the democrat school of debate. When in doubt, call someone a name.

If you lived here in San Diego, you would know the history of this particular story. The lights were initially installed in 1998. Opponents went to court to have them removed, citing shorter yellow lights, a seemingly too cozy contract with the light vendor Lockheed Martin who got $200 for every ticket, and what appeared to many as a revenue generating scheme by our City Council. The opponents, led by Roger Hedgecock, won and the lights were removed. The city altered the camera light protocol and after several years, began introducing them one intersection at a time including a grace period. So far, no one has contested them in court since the reintroduction.

I stated no opinion on whether they were revenue driven or safety driven. Nor did I state my support or opposition. I stated my anecdotal observation on how they affect my daily commute.

If you wish to discuss my anecdotal observations, or the history of the program great. Otherwise, ‘nuff said.

[bobsatwork]

There were zero collisions at the intersection during the 12 months before the original installation of the $100,000 camera in 2004 and two rear-end accidents in the 12 months after installation... - The goal? Reduce accidents. The result? Increased accidents. Conclusion? Works just fine.

[Teotwawki]

In the true spirit of our tea partying forefathers, I'm surprised that these cameras aren't being painted over with a few shots from a paintball gun or some strategically placed graffiti.