Ohio bans traffic cams...

[puggit]

www.thenewspaper.com/news/04/406.asp

Ohio House Votes to Ban Red Light Cameras
A bill effectively banning camera enforcement passes in Ohio state House of Representatives.

Rep. James Raussen on May 18, 2005The Ohio House of Representatives voted 72-23 to approve a bill (text as introduced) by state Representative Jim Raussen (R-Springdale) today that would effectively prohibit the use of red light cameras and speed cameras in the state. Raussen's legislation would only allow the devices to be used when a police officer is present to witness the offense and issue the citation to the driver.

The House also voted 92-4 to add a provision standardizing yellow signal timing to the ITE recommendations. The amendment's sponsor, Rep. Shawn Webster, cited the Texas Transportation Institute study showing longer yellow times decreased accidents.

Raussen argued that the photo enforcement represented, "a program that at best has questionable results." He cited cases in Ohio where individuals had improperly received tickets for offenses they did not commit as well as studies which show red light camera use actually increased the number of accidents where they were used.

Rep. Peter Ujvagi (D-Toledo) agreed that some abuses have happened, but "we should not punish those communities that are doing the right thing." He cited evidence from the Toledo police showing a reduction in violations where the cameras were used.

The cities of Dayton, Middletown, Northwood, Sylvania Township, and Toledo currently use red light cameras. Northwood also uses speed cameras.

[petros]

Somebody offer these people a job here right smart!!!

[james_j]

"...photo enforcement represented, "a program that at best has questionable results." He cited cases in Ohio where individuals had improperly received tickets for offenses they did not commit as well as studies which show red light camera use actually increased the number of accidents where they were used..."

Isn't it great when you see some intelligence being used?

Would it happen in the UK I wonder?

Imagine if thinking also moved to speed humps and other congestion-creating initiatives (like badly phased traffic lights) and, because of the unnecessary pollution caused and time wasted, they were removed. MMM, nice dream.

[mondeoman]

puggit said:

[url]....legislation would only allow the devices to be used when a police officer is present to witness the offense and issue the citation to the driver.

At last - recognition that on offence needs to be dealt with at the time, not 2-3 weeks after the fact!

Bring it on to the UK.

Seems as thougth evidence is gaining ground that remote law enforcement DOES NOT WORK.

[kevinday]

Surely I am not alone in thinking that red light cameras are a good idea, provided that the amber timing is not open to manipulation? To me a red light camera is about safety. Set amber light lengths according to some sensible rule such as in a 30 mph 2.5 seconds, 40 mph 3 seconds, 50 and above 4 seconds and everybody would know where they stand.

Here in Hungary red light jumping is rife and lots of accidents occur at TLC junctions.

[zumbruk]

There's research (from Australia) to show that accidents go up at traffic lights with cameras, as people brake hard when seeing the camera and get tail-ended. Yes, people should slow down and leave larger gaps, but meanwhile, in the real world ...

[kevinday]

So this is saying that it is better to avoid a few low speed differential collisions than to avoid one high speed side impact type collision?

[Flat in Fifth]

kevinday said:

Surely I am not alone in thinking that red light cameras are a good idea, provided that the amber timing is not open to manipulation? To me a red light camera is about safety. Set amber light lengths according to some sensible rule such as in a 30 mph 2.5 seconds, 40 mph 3 seconds, 50 and above 4 seconds and everybody would know where they stand. Here in Hungary red light jumping is rife and lots of accidents occur at TLC junctions.

Exactly! I've been no fan of RLC's because I've seen the after effects caused by inappropriate combination of 85% percentile speed/ speed limit/ amber timing combined with drivers not behaving sensibly sometimes because of the terror of the £60/3pts.

To be effective and respected the law has to be seen to be fair, impartial, accurate, appropriate and above all just. Electronic enforcement of all sorts, RLC, speed, yellow box junction, parking, bus lanes plus what else have all been seen to be sadly lacking in those areas.

[Jewhoo]

www.safespeedforlife.com/download/annualreport04.pdf

go to the stats section for collisions and find table 2b (as well as a couple of others) RLCs have made zero difference to the accident rate in terms of numbers and severity.

[kevinday]

Jewhoo said:

www.safespeedforlife.com/download/annualreport04.pdf go to the stats section for collisions and find table 2b (as well as a couple of others) RLCs have made zero difference to the accident rate in terms of numbers and severity.

Would you believe anything this bunch of lentilists produces?

[zumbruk]

If it's contrary to the babbling garbage they usually spout, yes. The rest of that site makes me feel nauseous.

[puggit]

www.thenewspaper.com/news/04/416.asp

5/24/2005
Ohio Anti-Camera Bill Moves Australian Stock Market
Redflex stock tumbles on the Australian Stock Exchange on news that the Ohio House passed a bill that would effectively ban red light cameras.

Redflex Australia logoInvestors in Australia are taking note of state House passage of a bill that would effectively ban the use of red light cameras in the Ohio. Analysts with Credit Suisse First Boston Australia Equities Ltd. downgraded their recommendation for red light camera contractor Redflex to "underperform." Because the bill requires Senate passage before becoming law, Australian analysts do not think the ban is an immediate threat, but it represents a significant risk to Redflex which has ten percent of its camera business in the state of Ohio. Redflex stock tumbled 8.2 percent on the news to AUD $3.12, off 28 cents.

Redflex profits have recently boomed as a result of U.S. cities choosing the Australian camera company, which has an edge in digital camera technology. In February, the company cited a 413 percent growth in profits, at the time giving the stock a 4 percent boost to $3.82. Redflex has offices in the United States, but it is a wholly owned Australian company which reports all profits to the Australian Stock Exchange.

Source: Ohio Red Light For Redflex (Australasian Investment Review, 5/24/2005)

[andytk]

puggit said:

www.thenewspaper.com/news/04/416.asp 5/24/2005 Ohio Anti-Camera Bill Moves Australian Stock Market Redflex stock tumbles on the Australian Stock Exchange on news that the Ohio House passed a bill that would effectively ban red light cameras. Redflex Australia logoInvestors in Australia are taking note of state House passage of a bill that would effectively ban the use of red light cameras in the Ohio. Analysts with Credit Suisse First Boston Australia Equities Ltd. downgraded their recommendation for red light camera contractor Redflex to "underperform." Because the bill requires Senate passage before becoming law, Australian analysts do not think the ban is an immediate threat, but it represents a significant risk to Redflex which has ten percent of its camera business in the state of Ohio. Redflex stock tumbled 8.2 percent on the news to AUD $3.12, off 28 cents. Redflex profits have recently boomed as a result of U.S. cities choosing the Australian camera company, which has an edge in digital camera technology. In February, the company cited a 413 percent growth in profits, at the time giving the stock a 4 percent boost to $3.82. Redflex has offices in the United States, but it is a wholly owned Australian company which reports all profits to the Australian Stock Exchange. Source: Ohio Red Light For Redflex (Australasian Investment Review, 5/24/2005)

This is the crux of the matter.

We need to hurt the camera companies where it hurts. After all they're the ones peddelling misery.

Its a pity the same can't be dished out to the SPECS and truvelo makers.

Andy

[rewc]

I think that red light cameras are the wrong tool for preventing cars going through red lights. It is dangerous so you would think the technology would be used to prevent it happening. i work for a company that manufactures traffic lights and understand amber periods and I think that is the problem.
When I lived in Germany many years ago they had lights in advance of the signals. If it was green then if you drove at the speed limit the lights would be green when you got to them. Flashing amber meant they would be red.
In Britain all they are interested in is punishment not prevention.

[top brake]

rewc said:

When I lived in Germany many years ago they had lights in advance of the signals. If it was green then if you drove at the speed limit the lights would be green when you got to them. Flashing amber meant they would be red. In Britain all they are interested in is punishment not prevention.

brilliant! just like railway signals

[will fly]

Maybe we need RLCs on the railways, that would raise some revenue

Roy

[nubbin]

Most Mediterranean countries seem to have flashing amber lights prior to TL controlled junctions, and use flashing amber at the lights to allow you to proceed with caution. Seems sensible to adopt methods like this in the U.K. where we actually drive quite sensibly, and tend to obey most sensible safety rules - which is why we have the lowest KSI in Europe despite the highest traffic density.

Why does Blair, Darling et. al. not use examples of best practice from other countries to improve OUR road safety? Is it because it won't raise any revenue?