[Half Vast Conspiracy]

Councilman Jim Cunningham urged the sheriff’s department to keep an eye on the three intersections so that motorists don’t feel as “they have a free pass to run red lights.”

As if the only way citizens follow the law is under the thumb of law enforcement.

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

In the seven years the program has been in operation, the number of broadside, or “T-bone” crashes at the three intersections has declined 53 percent, according to a city report prepared for the mayor. In the seven years prior to the cameras there were 62 crashes, or 8.9 per year. With the cameras operating the seven-year total was 29 crashes, or 4.1 per year. However, the number of rear-end accidents at these intersections increased 8 percent during the seven years of the right-light camera program, the report said.

Interesting, but the pertinent stat is the total number of crashes at the intersections,

[Gunslingr3]

The method for reducing red light accidents is to increase the period of the yellow light.

Some cities have been caught reducing the yellow light period to increase infractions and revenue.

[Kenny Bunk]

These Red Light Camera statistics are misleading and self-serving, as a spot check of nearby body shops will show a dispassionate observer.

Jamming on the brakes at the instant the timing-jiggered-short light goes yellow is causing (the yellow light is supposed to be on for AT LEAST 1 second for every 8mph of the speed limit)
(a) an inordinate number of rear-enders.
(b)These lights were ALL installed without appropriate Environmental Impact Studies. The short stops cause air pollution, pavement degradation and
(c) the normal flow of traffic is disrupted, causing stop-and-go jams, where previously there was some attempt at maintaining an orderly traffic flow.
(d) with obamagas at $3.50+ a gallon, the fuel wasted at 5-minute lights is enormous, and itself causes more local pollution.
(e)The Timed Traffic Light is apparently beyond the ability of many local officials.

Please bear in mind that I report this from Florida, where the natives are called "Floridiots" and not without good reason. The most common yellow light killer: a tattooed, heavily siliconed, texting, somewhat pixilated "single Mom" on or from her way to "work" at the "Gentleman's Club." Think Casey Anthony on home-made steroids. Buy a local deputy a drink and ask him (IMHO the best kind of field research.)

Before allowing this anti-constitutional and dangerous "safety" travesty into your area, make sure that your county commissioners and county sheriff are at least Junior High Graduates. Also campaign for round-abouts instead of needless traffic lights. These will have the immediate effect of removing bad drivers from the gene pool with extreme prejudice.

Call it "collateral damage."

[1010RD]

a good way to determine whether the camera system is effective

That's the lie right there. What's the purpose of the camera system: stopping accidents or collecting money?