They were higher because people are more distracted, nervous drivers knowing that they are being filmed. Anytime you add a pressure element to someone who is driving, you are more likely to increase accident rates.
But, it’s never been about decreasing accidents, anyway.
Houston PING
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Police union and other officials are citing the lack of rain for the drop in accidents and claiming that higher gas prices may also be a contributing factor. They also say that the cameras have been turned “off” yet say that they are still accounting how many people are “running” red lights. All tickets USED to go through an officer review process to make sure that the trigger wasn’t noting legal right turns on red and other legal scenarios. Without the camera footage, they cannot claim that runners have INCREASED, then again maybe they lied about the cameras being “off”.
I could just as easily cite the rise in gas prices as a reason more people are running red lights to improve gas mileage. Isn’t this fun playing “take a wild a&&ed guess?”
People only get into accidents because they follow REAL close each other trying to cram into the intersection, so when one person slams on their brakes for the camera the others domino into them. The cameras cannot make people drive stupid. They already do.
Or maybe people aren't slamming on the brakes during yellow lights any longer, but are instead clearing intersections normally - you know, they way they are supposed to on a yellow light.
If people are running a particular red light, it means the yellow isn't long enough. Period.
Red light cameras are about the revenue, nothing else.
LOL! That's a good one!
-PJ
Once red-light cams are installed, the greedy cities reduce the yellow light length into the nanosecond range, thus AUTOMATICALLY hiking tickets and REVENUE!
Aha ha ha ha ha...stop, my sides are hurting!
Most likely, it's Obama's fault. $4+ gallon gas cuts down on the number of people driving. Fewer drivers, and even fewer miles traveled will make for significant reductions in accidents.
The WAG from the unnamed "police administrators" about weather could also explain some things. I used to be a parts manager at an auto dealership. Whenever we had severe thunderstorms (or wintry weather in Atlanta area), I used to joke with the new and used car sales guys, "This is great wholesale parts weather!!" Many of my biggest wholesale customers were body shops.
Weather would cause reduced accident rates at all intersections, not just the ones with cameras.
The ‘red light’ cameras here in Tucson are a major hazard as drivers speed up to make the light and then slow down unexpectedly to avoid the camera and cause rear end accidents. They should be removed as they are only a blessing to the companies that install them and reap the cash benefits.
I’ve seen people absolutely stomp on their brakes at a yellow light that had one of those red light cameras and warning signs. Actually, I’ve seen it many times.
Why? Because they don’t want to risk a “fast yellow” and have to pay a hefty fine.
THAT’s how “red light cameras” cause accidents.
But it’s just too complicated for your average politician or LSM media scum to figure out, apparently...
Actually the Houston Pravda had it on the front page in the newspaper vending machine. I saw the headline walking into work. I didn’t buy the paper; I don’t have a bird. I was surprised the paper had it on the front page.