The Red Light Camera issue has left Driverthink in something of a quandary.  Should we be for them or against them?

For those who are not yet familiar with these neat little devices, they are cameras set up at various intersections.  They automatically take a picture or two of your favorite buggy and more specifically, its license plate, as you blow through the red light.  Said picture is then mailed to you or the owner of the car, together with a summons and fine which is usually just high enough to be annoying but low enough so drivers won’t clog up the courts pleading not guilty.

At first blush, a system that penalizes drivers who wantonly blow through red lights at intersections would appear to be a good thing.  Who could ever complain about an idea that would, on the surface, attempt to reduce intersection accidents?  Very politically correct.

A closer look, however, seems to suggest that they actually do quite the opposite.  As drivers stand on their brakes to avoid getting their pictures taken, they tend to get rear-ended from behind.  Not so good.

So do these cute little devices reduce or increase accidents at their chosen locations?  A simple Google of "Red Light Cameras" will quickly uncover the controversy and more than one study would seem to suggest they increase accidents.  Driverthink is all for reducing accidents – but not at the expense of increasing them.  Hmmm.  Thus the quandary.

Of course, there’s another little issue here.  Does it really matter whether the cameras are safe or not?  Those little ole’ $50 summonses add up.  If it’s politically correct and can put big bucks into the endless coffers of Government, then it’s a “slam dunk” for many of the officials we seem to elect.  End of conversation. 

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Yup!  The Red Light Cameras are coming.  You can bet on it, especially if you live in an area where they elect officials more interested in taxing you than protecting you.  So how do we deal with these devilish little devices?  How can we keep from getting whacked at an intersection near us?

First, we need to look at how the cameras actually work – or at least how they are supposed to work.  A common misconception is that, if you’re in the intersection when the light turns Red, they’ve got you.  Actually, in most all jurisdictions, being in an intersection when the light turns Red is not a no-no.  It’s entering the intersection while the light is Red that’s the baddy.  Thus the cameras are designed to take your picture only if you enter on Red, not if you’re already inhabiting said intersection.

Next question.  How long does Yellow stay Yellow?  Hmm!  It varies.  Some would suggest they change more quickly at the camera intersections, thus offering you greater opportunity to feed those Government coffers.  You’ve got to wonder, but Section 4D.10 of the National Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices suggests duration of 3 to 6 seconds for the Yellow warning light.

Okay.  Now we have an idea of how the cameras work and how much time we have before triggering them.  What’s next?

Well we could get a GPS or Radar Detector that has the little clickers programmed in.  Great.  A warning device in your car that screams, “Hey!  Don’t blow the Red Light here!”  Screeech!  Whaaaam!  Oh Boy!

Okay.  Here are some Driverthink thoughts on how to deal with Red Light Cameras.  Surprise!  They’re not much different than dealing with any other Red Light intersection.

• The busier the intersection, the more likely it will have a camera.

• Approaching an intersection is a really good time to check your rear view mirror.  How close to you, is your back bumper buddy?

• Always take a good look at the intersection well before you enter it.  Does it look clear and safe to get through – regardless of the traffic signal?

• Never slam on your brakes to stop at the intersection unless you really have to.  If you can’t stop smoothly, move on through.

• Ease off the gas if you think you may have to stop.  “I was going too fast to stop” is a rather common, but not a very valid excuse for blowing a Red Light.

• If the light goes Yellow, make your decision to stop or go, then stay with it.  Don’t second guess yourself.  Your indecision may not be noticed by the driver behind you.  Whack!

• As you move thru the intersection, take a final glance at the light.  Yellow?  You made it.  Red?  Oops!

• Finally, always remember.  It’s safety first.  Paying a $50.00 fine is better than get rear-ended but even getting rear-ended is still better than getting "T-Boned!"

If our elected officials really want to prove to us that these cameras are about safety and not the revenues, they could (should) institute the following possible safeguards at Red Light Camera intersections:

• Yellow lights should never be less than six seconds.

• Yellow lights should have a blinking horizontal strobe light through the center, warning of the camera.  This would warn not only the first driver approaching, but also the drivers behind.   (This might reduce the revenues but hey, isn’t it supposed to be about safety?)

• Some type of signal should alert the driver at the time the picture is taken.  This would allow the driver to note any unique circumstances at the time, rather than having to remember back to what happened a month or so later, when the summons finally arrives.

Until such safeguards are instituted, Driverthink will have to agree with those who feel Red Light Cameras are really just another Government tax, and not at all about safety.  Perhaps if we all join together and plead the summons’ in court, it would clog the courts to the point where the officials would have to re-think their insanity or succumb to the safeguards suggested above.

With the appropriate safeguards in place then, yes.  We could agree that Red Light Cameras could probably save lives.

What do you think?