My OperaRed Light Cameras
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 10:34:30 PM
I just read an article on red light cameras, "Red light runners rile police" By LEIGHTON KEITH - Taranaki Daily News.
Red light cameras are a great idea. Most serious accidents and crimes have their beginnings in small crimes like ignoring red lights and other laws or in the case of car hitting bike, not giving 1.5 metres space when passing. Same goes for stop signs, giveway signs, not giving way to pedestrians crossing on zebra (and other) crossings.
At some point running (speeding up at) yellow lights, going 5km/hr over speed limit becomes running red lights and sitting 20km/hr over speed limit. Then the number of accidents goes up and the harm done goes up. Gone are the days when we saw police in town that stopped someone if they ran a red light or raced a yellow, or such crazy things.
What happens is what people consider 'normal' changes until they have a major accident.
One thing i notice a lot (as a cyclist) is the number of times a car will be tooting at the car (or bike) in front to move when the light is still red or the person has stopped on a yellow light in accordance with the road code (when light goes yellow slow and stop if it is safe to do so). So many people speed up on yellow lights, "yellow means go faster".
Something needs to be done to reverse this trend before it becomes extremely dangerous.
Red light cameras are a great idea. Most serious accidents and crimes have their beginnings in small crimes like ignoring red lights and other laws or in the case of car hitting bike, not giving 1.5 metres space when passing. Same goes for stop signs, giveway signs, not giving way to pedestrians crossing on zebra (and other) crossings.
At some point running (speeding up at) yellow lights, going 5km/hr over speed limit becomes running red lights and sitting 20km/hr over speed limit. Then the number of accidents goes up and the harm done goes up. Gone are the days when we saw police in town that stopped someone if they ran a red light or raced a yellow, or such crazy things.
What happens is what people consider 'normal' changes until they have a major accident.
One thing i notice a lot (as a cyclist) is the number of times a car will be tooting at the car (or bike) in front to move when the light is still red or the person has stopped on a yellow light in accordance with the road code (when light goes yellow slow and stop if it is safe to do so). So many people speed up on yellow lights, "yellow means go faster".
Something needs to be done to reverse this trend before it becomes extremely dangerous.
