Traffic Cameras are Deadly!
I will undoubtedly add to this essay as I get more information, so check back. Better yet, sign up for regular updates at National Motorists Association and watch the links at the bottom.
I refuse to drive on a freeway that has traffic cameras, at night. That's because the flash in someone's face could cause a heart attack or other medical incident, resulting in an accident. Recently, I drove along highway 101, in Scottsdale, Arizona. The traffic was nearly bumper to bumper. The speed limit was 65. The traffic was driving 66. Periodically, the camera flashed a very bright light at a motorist. One of these flashed at me, momentarily blinding me. I am lucky because my eyes are excellent at night, and I recovered my vision quickly. What if I didn't have that blessing? The cameras didn't take pictures of license plates. Apparently no citations were issued that night. So why were the lights going off? Beats me. Maybe to discourage people from driving 66. So I wrote emails to the mayor and city council and told them I would no longer drive through that area at night, and I would no longer be going to restaurants in the area as a result, and they would lose my business. I never got a response from anybody. Now it's time to take this to the state level, because our nincompoop of a governor wants these traffic cameras all over the state. Here's an excerpt from an article I saw recently:
The Loop 101 cameras have generated millions in revenue this year alone. As of last month, the system issued 32,236 tickets worth a minimum of $5,222,232 in 2007. By the end of June, officials expect that figure to top $7.5 million. To ensure no interruption in ticketing, the state police will transition into nominal authority over the program between July and December this year by using Scottsdale's vendor contract and holding trials in the city court system. In return, Scottsdale will be allowed to keep all of the profit. As the vendor does all the work, the state's takeover is more of a formality dealing with the handover of paperwork, permits and responsibility for some of the court operations...
A study of the effects of the first 110,962 tickets issued in 2006 -- worth $17 million -- documented a 54 percent increase in rear-end collisions and a 9 percent increase in injuries from rear-end collisions. These collisions happened as motorists nearing the cameras panicked and braked suddenly to avoid receiving a citation. They were then struck from behind by surprised motorists who had been following closely.
See the full article here:
Arizona Takes Over Scottsdale Freeway Speed Cameras
Generally speaking, people will pay fines rather than contest tickets because it's more expensive to fight them. This means the law is essentially extortion.
Here are some of the problems with traffic cameras: 1. they are unconstitutional because a person cannot face his accuser. You can't cross-examine a camera. 2. In some jurisdictions, they're ticketing the owner of the car instead of the driver. They can't prove that the owner knows who drove the car, or even that the owner was driving it himself. 3. Traffic cameras are not necessarily accurate. 4. Traffic cameras usually result in an increase in accidents.
Here's another article:
Colorado: Red Light Camera Increased Accident Rate 45 Percent
I quit trying to stop on a dime at a traffic light after an incident. The incident involved my trying to do just that. My car spun out. The road was dry and had no oil deposit. My tires were good. My brakes were fine. It's one of those freaky things that happens. What if there had been a car next to mine? I will never take that risk again. Why should I? Now with the new red light cameras, will I get a ticket for driving prudently? If I have enough time to stop reasonably, I do, but I don't push it anymore.
Or how about this one:
Speed Camera Tickets Man for Driving 59 in a 60 Zone
Or this one:
2007 Virginia DOT Report Shows Red Light Cameras Increase Accidents
And finally, this one:
UK: World Speed Camera Capital Loses Safety Crown
It has been learned that the best way to decrease collisions at intersections is to increase the length of the yellow light by a second to a second and a half. The idea here, folks, is to decrease accidents, not give the government a way to extort revenue out of people!
There are probably some easy ways to defeat these cameras. How about lowering your visor so that you cannot see the camera? How about wearing sunglasses, or changing your appearance just for driving?
Traffic cameras are a VERY bad idea. The quicker we get rid of them, the better.
Links:
National Motorists Association