Police in San Jose, California urged a city council transportation committee to drop plans to install red light traffic cameras in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley. “Studies reveal an awful lot of ambiguity and dissonance,” Deputy Chief Donald Anders explained. “Some jurisdictions have noted a reduction in their traffic accident rate. Other jurisdictions have noted an actual increase in their traffic accident rate. The reason for that increase primarily seems to be rear end accidents.” San Jose police conducted a 39-week evaluation of traditional enforcement efforts. Forty-one officers conducted a highly visible intersection ticketing blitz in four zones containing areas with the highest accident rates. When ticketing patrols were active, the rate of accidents attributed to red light running was 0.6 crashes per week. “By national standards, our injury crash rate is approximately fifty-percent of the rest of the country — an indication that with the limited staff we have in traffic enforcement that we’re actually being quite effective and efficient with our efforts as they stand,” Anders said. Police Chief Robert L. Davis filed a written report asserting that a red light camera program would divert Special Enforcement Team officers away from duties such as conducting DUI roadblocks. Councilman Sam Liccardo asked the department to conduct another report, this time focusing on the experience of nearby cities with active red light camera programs. [click here for the full story at thenewspaper.com]
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Repeat after me…”its all about the money”.
For a longer explanation about how to incorrectly set yellow intervals to make false violations, and charge for them, see http://www.motorists.org and follow the photo enforcement links.
Really, take a scamera vendor from Australia or Europe, add a desperate (for money from a “free” source) City Council, wrap in “it’s for the children” male bovine feces, add an astroturf lobbying group, and instant revenue stream.
Traffic Safety…Not so Much.
Hooray for level-headed research on the part of the SJ police! Personally I think stricter enforcement of red light running is a good thing for making intersections safer, but red light cameras have had not a few instances of corrupt usage — shortened yellow lights, dishonest suppliers, assured revenue stream — and can actually decrease safety as the SJ police point out. I am disgusted by red light cameras ticketing for turning right a split second after a light has turned red (happened to a friend of mine). While technically illegal, so is driving 56 MPH. Go after the blatant bad drivers, please.
Speedlaw is correct. ‘Tis s Scam!
This’ll actually affect me as I’m in SJ pretty often… and I’ll say I’m happy about it because that’s the only position accepted on car forums.
Actually I really am glad of it, because red light cameras make me (and other drivers) nervous and prone to dumb moves. We have some in Fremont where I live and I feel safer at the intersections without them. That said… I don’t get all up in arms about them the way I do with speed cameras. Speeding safely is easy. Blowing a red safely isn’t. It’s probably the most likely way for me to be killed in the next few decades of my life (my car does well in frontal crashes, but has very thin flanks).
I blew through a red light this morning b/c it was raining and slick. Doubtful I could have stopped anywhere but the middle of the intersection. The loaded work truck on my back bumper was a concern too.
Instant ticket despite proper choices for safety.
If we used more roundabouts in the US, then we wouldn’t have the T-bone type accident. That is turn would reduce the demands for photo cameras for safety reasons.
On the other hand… I’m in Phoenix right now working with a client. There is a small roundabout a couple of blocks from here. I’m just appalled about how most drivers here handle it. They either (a) just blow through without looking to their left, or (b) come to a complete halt. I’ve yet to see anyone use their indicators when they exit the roundabout.
I’d guess less than 20% of the cars that go through that intersection do it correctly. Terrible.