When Good Intentions Go Bad: Traffic Cameras Trigger Rear-End Collisions
- Posted on November 24, 2010 at 12:39pm by
Meredith Jessup
- Print »
- Email »
In an effort to thwart would-be red-light-runners, the city of West Palm Beach installed traffic light cameras and began handing out fines in February. At first the program seemed like a success as the city collected $10,000 in busting a number of drivers. But nine months later, the city is reporting some mixed results.
Since the city began its crackdown, injuries have increased fivefold from accidents at the city’s four camera intersections compared to just one year ago. Now city officials are rethinking the cameras. The Sun Sentinel reports:
West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel, who once got a ticket for rolling right on red — which is now less rigidly enforced — said she is willing to support cameras if they can be shown to enhance safety. At the same time, she expressed concern that the cameras can create the impression of “gotcha” government.
“I do not believe it should be a cash cow for the city,” Frankel said. “I personally don’t like the cameras.”
Police Chief Delsa Bush, however, said she would not recommend removing the cameras: “I do not believe that they have been in use long enough to comprehensively evaluate the effect that they have on red-light running in specific, and overall public safety in general.”
Bush noted that the cameras show indications of playing a helpful role in tracking suspects in crimes and said the city is exploring enhancing them with license plate readers that capture all plate numbers automatically.
In West Palm Beach, overall accidents at the camera intersections decreased to 26 compared with 38 a year earlier, and damage cited in police reports fell below $96,000 from more than $113,000. But rear-end collisions climbed almost 30 percent to 17 from 13, and recorded injuries rose. …
Rear-end collisions sometimes have increased under cameras in other states such as Virginia as drivers may be more likely to stop abruptly, though no police reports in West Palm Beach said drivers blamed red-light cameras for accidents.
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 591 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 417 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 385 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 376 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 417 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 385 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know 100 Comments- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 417 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (58)
grickm
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 7:41pmWe had ‘em in Houston for a while, but in the November 2010 election people voted them off. One of the first things we heard from the city administration was, what are we going to do to about the lost revenue? Do they make us safer? I don’t know. Do they generate revenue for the city? Absolutely yes.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:40pmIf safety is the true intent, often parking an unmanned patrol car at an intersection will caution would be red light runners. Revenue is the intent and therefore the public will not part well when having to pay fines, which is a tax imposed by government.
Report Post »cykonas
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 6:25pmCome on people! Who really thinks the city of West Palm Beach, or any other govenment, gives a royal rats hind end about their citizens? It’s about the money! As long as ticket revenue is up, the program is a success. You can spend you time debating timing and safety and all the rest, but revenue enhancement is the ONLY consideration here. Wise up.
Report Post »SJJB
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 5:40pmThe installation of the Red Light Cameras, we have told, is to prevent accidents. don’t believe it. They are revenue generating., that is their only purpose. They have replaced the “ speed Trap” of the old days. The old timers on this website know about the speed traps of old. If you received a red light ticket in California via the red light camera, the fine is close to six hundred dollars.
Report Post »roughneck.seay
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 5:03pmWe have those things in my city too. I wish they would get rid of them! I don’t like the idea of a private company looking at my personal info. without my concent, or that half of the fines that should be going to the city going to some company. They should have took the $60,000 times the ten or so camra’s they bought, and hired some more cops! Put some people to work! grrrrrrrr…
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 5:01pmDon’t Worry, Be Happy! Some schmuck-brain will think of sueing the city/town. Did I say that?
Report Post »Bullcop34
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 4:44pmI see people complain about the timing of the yellow light. Here is a way to check the timing. Take the speed limit, say 35 mph, and multiply be .10 equals 3.5. This is translated to 3.5 seconds for the yellow light before it turns red. For those of us who are mathmatically challenged, just put the decimal between the two numbers.
Now, as a former cop, the red light camers, IMHO, are fine by me. Follow the law, stop running the intersection and the cameras will out cost themselves. Would you rather have cops sit at intersections and pull people over all day? You are still going to pay a fine either way you go, and with the police officer, you will be delayed and possibly we would find something else. Again, IMHO, I would much rather be working the streets, catching speeders, drunks, dealers, etc, than sitting at a freaking intersection all day long. Also, there is no reasonable expectation of privacy in your own car on a public street. Remember, driving in ANY state is a privelage, not a right. If you don’t want a ticket, don’t run the light. Yellow means be prepared to stop, not speed up. Read your DMV manual for your state, they will all state the same thing.
Report Post »jwj48
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 3:41pmLive in Chicago and travel out of state where stop lights operate normally and speed limits are 70 mph. I have received 5 tickets after returning home because the timing on the lights in Chicago is changed to entrap drivers. In other areas where you see a yellow light and are approaching an intersection at the speed limit you usually have 3 to 4 seconds of yellow to decide if you can safely stop or proceed through the yellow. Not in Chicago. The yellow light on some intersections is less than a second and turns red generating a ticket. Also intersections with a red left turn arrow coming on first that normally transisitions into a green now go to red for 3 to 4 seconds to entrap drivers and generate tickets. The city of Chicago also has instructed police officers to issue new municipal tickets in place of state statute issued tickets which now require court appearance for minor violations like stop signs. Instead of having the option to just pay the fine of 75.00 you now must pay 145.00 court costs plus the 75.00 and if you get 2 tickets in any time period the fines double and continue to multiply at the cities discretion.
All stop light intersections should be required to have standarized seqeintial light timing and countdown displays warning approaching drivers how many seconds are remaining on the green light. This would stop many panic stops that I now make to avoid being entrapped for a costly ticket.
Report Post »capecodsully
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 3:31pmIs this another story about Barney Frank? I’m in the wrong place.
Report Post »Linnapaw
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 3:23pmIn Chicago, the number of accidents has actually gone up by about 6% at the intersections where the cameras have been installed.
http://theexpiredmeter.com/?p=5972
Report Post »Dougral
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 3:21pmI don’t like the cameras because they are meant as a cash cow for the cities that install them. Those cameras can flag people for small violations like a rolling stop or creeping past the stop line. The cameras enforce the exact letter of the law to maximize profits. If every traffic law was enforced to those exacting standards none of us would keep our licenses more than a week. I’m not surprised that people slam on their brakes at camera controlled intersections. No one wants to have to pay a fine and maybe a surcharge that is meant to bring in even more money.
Report Post »Sparky101
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 3:31pmDougral, you say “If every traffic law was enforced to those exacting standards none of us would keep our licenses more than a week.” Sorry, I’ve been obeying the traffic laws all over the US, and still have my license (and have never had a ticket or caused an accident). My rule of thumb is to do what’s expected plus be very aware of other drivers around me and anticipate they will do stupid things. It’s saved me countless times (except when that guy ran a red light and hit me and when that drunk turned into my lane and hit me).
Report Post »freightliner1160
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 3:14pmAs my name shows, I am a trucker. Run about 140,000 miles a year (suffering from dunlap disease ). I have no trouble with them. Seen to many 4wheelers think that a red light is optional (wife, K7 and K32. Her quote”when I started down the top of the off rap, it was green”. But takes 13 seconds from top ramp to stop line. Takes light 5 seconds to change from green to red. (for you libs out there, that is light goes from green to yellow for 5 seconds, and then to red). It took her 13.5 seconds from time getting off of ramp to customizing the car with a mid 70′s pick up. Pick up, broken turn signal light on passenger side. 10,000 in damage to our new car. Red light was optional to her) and they don’t have to stop. I drive 5-10 mph below posted limit due to stopping distance of my truck. I also practice this in my car. I won’t get caught at light cam, and if on two lane no passing road, get to upset every one behind me at same time.
Report Post »sawman
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 3:08pmI for one, refuse to participate in the willy nilly pace we all conduct ourselves with. I have downsized my life in order to be able to not only stop and smell the roses, but to drive slowly enough to realizes that there are roses to be seen. If I want to get there on time, I leave with sufficient time to get there sanely, and within the constraints of the traffic laws. I have felt the ire of my fellow traffic participants though, in that many of them are stuck behind me at times. I always go 5mph under the limits at all times. I seldom turn right on red. Had a cop ask me once about that. I told him when it’s a law that we must turn right on red, I would. Only time I ever go the speed limit, or exceed the limit is when it becomes a safety issue for me, such as in a multi-lane high speed situation. That is also why I always attempt to avoid those insane multi-lane environments. I prefer the slower pace of life. Besides in those times, Red Light cameras would be very good BB gun targets.
Report Post »mrmikejohnson
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 2:12pmRed light cameras aren’t about traffic safety. They’re about money.
Report Post »dkhartman
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 1:54pmDid I just read that they want to take pictures of ALL license plates no matter what??
Report Post »Oh geez, here we go.
jb1972
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 2:20pmthat caught my eye too. Scary stuff going on..
Report Post »Chicago Ray
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 1:43pmThis exact thing happened to me not too long ago where I had gotten one on a corner nearby in the Chicago Northwest suburbs the first week they installed them when they cash in like crazy catching everyone by surprise until everyone hears about the installation.
So I’m coming up on the same light in the rain a couple months later, have ABS on my car which is clearly identified on the back bumper (In English) and got rear ended when I wouldn’t go through the yellow light with a tailgaiting Amigo with no insurance it turns out riding my azz in a Grasscutter Deathtrap ltd..
Fortunately because of the slickness our cars just slid ahead into the intersection together with little damage but had someone been running the other way we would have been broadsided.. .
Report Post »freightliner1160
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 1:43pmNever had a red light cam ever caused a wreck. The idiot tailgating is the one at fault.
Report Post »Never has a gun caused a death. The idiot pulling the trigger is the one at fault.
Never has a donut caused a butt to bubble (bubble butt), The idiot heifer, scarfing down the anti health food with a bazillion calories is the one at fault.
knotaclu
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 1:27pmUnintended consequences: A perverse effect contrary to what was originally intended (when an intended solution makes a problem worse), such as when a policy has a perverse incentive that causes actions opposite to what was intended.
Report Post »NJartificer
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 1:26pmIt would seem the people are better of without big brother and his big money machine, just as we thought
http://www.impactlab.net/2010/10/19/turning-traffic-lights-off-improves-flow-and-safety/
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 1:02pmThoughtfully placed infrared LED lights placed above your “plate”, powered by the 12 volt system in your car invisable to the eye, and the nice police man’s eyes, yet when photographed these lights present a “light halo” that obscures your “plate” number to cameras. But stop on RED anyway, It much more healthy.
Report Post »Dale
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 1:01pmAh, the specter of Big Brother. 1984 arrives, just a bit late.
Report Post »takingonissues.com
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 12:58pmAnother government program gone bad….what else is new.
Report Post »Zai
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 12:49pmI’ve not received a ticket from one yet, but that’s because I avoid the areas that have it. It‘s a hidden tax and I’m not about to donate $500 that I can use elsewhere. Businesses near these intersections unfortunately for them no longer see me as often as they would.
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 12:56pmand you routinely run red–lights?
Report Post »Zai
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 1:00pmNope. No tickets for the last 25 years of driving. I’m careful when I drive. I’m careful where I shop.
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 1:06pmYou don’t have to routinely run red lights to get hit with a traffic cam ticket. Often times, the yellow lights on the camera lights are shorter than standard yellow lights = increase in profits, which by the way is what this is all about—not safety.
Report Post »Sparky101
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 3:23pmJJ Coolay, It is not for a profit, it is to get people to obey a simple but very important rule of the road. Please check into your State’s driving law on yellow lights. You will see that their intent was not to have people speed up to get through on a yellow. It was to warn people it was time to slow down and stop.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 3:38pmIt is still a bad idea to slam on the brakes when the light turns yellow. The yellow light is a warning that the light is getting ready to turn red not an immediate stop command.
Report Post »Thoth
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 4:56pmI do not ‘speed up’ on yellow-lights, but have received a ticket from one of those intersections. They really have the timing screwed down tight on some. So much so, you really have to anticipate the yellow light. The last time I went through that same intersection, I realized the yellow was on as I was approaching, and slammed on my brakes to avoid the ticket. No rear-end, but I just got lucky as I screeched to a halt in-time. It would have been far safer to just go through the yellow, and be clear before the opposing traffic got its green. Definitely un-intended consequences.
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 12:48pmThey took down the red light cameras where I live because of the rear-endings that were occuring when people slammed on thier brakes to avoid a ticket even though they had plenty of time to get through on the yellow.
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 1:04pmYup….. ridiculous.
Report Post »NANNY STATE
snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 1:24pmYes they took those blasted cameras down, yet some of the smaller cities still use them if I remember correctly. Just like in other cities, the slam-breaks, car-smashes just got to be larger and larger with each year they were used, and Napoletano failed to (as expected) derive the profits for the state like she promised.
Must have been why Obama elected her to the Homeland Security (KGB Inc) office in the first place.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 2:28pmI always stop at red lights and if I can at yellow HOWEVER.. when I go into CHICAGO I am such a nervous wreck wondering if I STOPPED LONG enough if the camera’s are accurate.. I was going in once a week to see my ma but sense she passed away in July I only go in once a month to see relatives..
Report Post »jb1972
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 12:47pmSo it remains that the would be red light runners are the ones causing the accidents by still trying to get through the lights even if it means running over someone! It works like a charm… if you cant stop them from doing it make sure it costs them big time.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 2:03pmDon’t know the statistics in my city (small compared to most) of traffic accidents, but they turned ours off because most people knew where they were and did what they were supposed to do – follow the law.
Report Post »A Extremist
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 2:13pmI think you misread. This is the law of unintended consequences. People are not running the red lights more. The honest citizens that obey the law are afraid of getting caught up in the scamera and they slam on the brakes at the second the yellow comes on. This causes rear end collisions as people don’t expect panic stops when the yellow comes on. There is a reason you have several seconds to clear the intersection before it turns red. Now we have people doing panic stops rather than flowing thru on the yellow as the system was designed.
The funny thing is that now the most compliant drivers are the ones getting in the accidents because they are trying to hard to follow the law.
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 2:39pmThere’s the good side & the bad side for these cameras & the debate is not over yet .
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 2:45pmA EXTREMIST, not here. You can get a ticket where I live in central FL for yielding thru a yellow light. Camera takes pix, ticket comes in the mail (not always, they did evaluate the circumstances). Like I said, they have stopped it now but the “snow birds” are coming back so it may start up again. Accidents double when they are here anyway.
Report Post »H2OBoardem
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 2:47pm@ Extremist – You’d never get the do-gooders to admit to just how right you analysis is. It’s so simple, settle down and just drive in a normal, polite manner.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 3:03pmThere are ALWAYS consequences of new laws. ALWAYS. And the hits just keep coming from our opressive Government. When will they ever learn?
Report Post »Sparky101
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 3:18pmA Extremist, actually the yellow light does not mean to go through. In most states of which I am aware, the yellow light means to slow down and red means to stop. In most states in which I’ve driven, poor drivers read it as a chance to speed up and get through the intersection. This and the propensity of such drivers to tailgate, is what causes the accidents. Just like people complain about the “idiot” who is doing the speed limit. The problem has always been those who do not obey the law. The cameras are to get them. I had a number of intersections on my way to work, with left hand turn signals. Problem was that once they got their light, they would keep coming through, green, yellow or red. Oncoming drivers were getting hot because they would not be able to get through on a single light change because of all the people running the red lights in this fashion. Me, I just charged out on the green, even if they had to slam on their brakes and sit in the middle until the next light change. Boy were they ever mean about that, horns, gestures, yelling. Whoa, too bad. Following the law is pretty easy.
Report Post »SHTFMilitia.com
Posted on November 24, 2010 at 4:55pmSee cam JAM on brakes get rear ended
If you are prepared you may survive,
Report Post »http://www.shtfmilitia.com
hifi74
Posted on November 25, 2010 at 3:59pmStrangely enough I was having a similar discussion with my work partner when I was near blinded by the damn things and almost ran into the car in front of me.
Report Post »Sam I am
Posted on November 25, 2010 at 7:23pm!. City makes yellow light shorter to “enhance” revenue.
2. Drivers see light turn yellow and slam on the brakes.
3. Cars pile up.
What’s hard to understand?
Taquoshi
Posted on November 25, 2010 at 7:50pmIt’s kind of a touch and go situation for us. I have a fairly small car, but my calculations for stopping distance is about 1 car length for every 10 mph I’m going. If I”m going 30 mph, it’s going to take me about 3 car lengths to stop (without slamming on the brakes). If I’m just entering the intersection when the light goes yellow, it’s going to put me right in the middle of the darn thing if I stop right then and there. So, I have to speed up to get through so I’m not blocking traffic.
Our town doesn’t have the ticket cams, but we do have traffic monitoring cams. One good thing about the cams is that in our town, DPW has used them to safeguard those who have had accidents. A guy got hit on a motorcycle and DPW saw it happen and was able to get a town truck out there to prevent anyone else from hitting the downed cyclist or the bike until the police and ambulance arrived.
Report Post »