Comments on: Red light Cameras: Albuquerque, NM http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/03/15/red-light-cameras-albuquerque-nm/ The voice of Clarksville, Tennessee Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:33:43 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Turner McCullough Jr. http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/03/15/red-light-cameras-albuquerque-nm/comment-page-1/#comment-7669 Turner McCullough Jr. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:36:03 +0000 http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/03/15/red-light-cameras-albuquerque-nm/#comment-7669 I too was initially favorable to this initiative. That support was based upon my experiences with red-light cameras in German cities. There, the cities operate the camera system. It isn't about making money, but ensuring and protecting public safety. However these reports show that principal is not the primary motivation under the American imported model. It's a shame we couldn't import the German model without interjecting the capitalism germ into the mix. Manipulating yellow signal timing to deny drivers the 3-second standard is reprehensible. The companies which promote these camera systems do so as a business, which is understandable. However to base contracts strictly on profit-sharing of violators seems disingenuous. The citizens have no way to know of the timing shift activated within these camera systems. Governments don't declare it upfront. There are no warning signs that the traffic lights have shortened yellow light times. Accidents have resulted from the installation of these systems. It seems the community would be better served by improving our roadway system. Re-configure some intersections and roads, analyze and coordinate traffic signals to aid traffic in moving more smoothly around our community. Short these corrective first-step actions, it would seem that we would need to hire someone to inspect and monitor the camera system operation to insure drivers are not being victimized by the this safety enhancement that is suppose to protect them. A strange kettle of fish this! I too was initially favorable to this initiative. That support was based upon my experiences with red-light cameras in German cities. There, the cities operate the camera system. It isn’t about making money, but ensuring and protecting public safety. However these reports show that principal is not the primary motivation under the American imported model.

It’s a shame we couldn’t import the German model without interjecting the capitalism germ into the mix. Manipulating yellow signal timing to deny drivers the 3-second standard is reprehensible. The companies which promote these camera systems do so as a business, which is understandable. However to base contracts strictly on profit-sharing of violators seems disingenuous.

The citizens have no way to know of the timing shift activated within these camera systems. Governments don’t declare it upfront. There are no warning signs that the traffic lights have shortened yellow light times. Accidents have resulted from the installation of these systems.

It seems the community would be better served by improving our roadway system. Re-configure some intersections and roads, analyze and coordinate traffic signals to aid traffic in moving more smoothly around our community. Short these corrective first-step actions, it would seem that we would need to hire someone to inspect and monitor the camera system operation to insure drivers are not being victimized by the this safety enhancement that is suppose to protect them. A strange kettle of fish this!

]]> By: ABC Cab Co. Inc. http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/03/15/red-light-cameras-albuquerque-nm/comment-page-1/#comment-6410 ABC Cab Co. Inc. Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:15:40 +0000 http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2008/03/15/red-light-cameras-albuquerque-nm/#comment-6410 Thanks for all the hard work you put into the "red light camera" article. I assumed it was a good idea, now im not sure. Lyle Smith Thanks for all the hard work you put into the “red light camera” article. I assumed it was a good idea, now im not sure.

Lyle Smith

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