Cameras ARE for cash!
Discussion
http://washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20050114-083242-8605r.htm
When revenue trumps safety in D.C.
We have to applaud the honesty of Mayor Tony Williams. As reported Wednesday in The Washington Times, the combined take of photo radar and red-light cameras in the District (since inception in 1999) is sure to hit the $100 million mark this year. Reflecting on this cash cow, Mr. Williams said the contract with Dallas-based Affiliated Computer Systems (ACS) needs to be renewed "to ensure the continued ... collection of District revenues." He made no mention of increasing road safety.
This $100 million number is the amount of fines paid. Penalties distributed but unpaid are much higher, and all figures soon will grow dramatically. Last week, Metropolitan Police Chief Charles Ramsey announced the installation of four more permanent traffic cameras (there currently is only one) and eight new mobile units. These new speed cameras won't provide any public safety benefit and they aren't intended to. The same applies to the District's 39 red-light cameras. In many cases, these cameras actually make streets more dangerous.
The most extensive U.S. study of intersection photo enforcement — released in July by the North Carolina A&T University's Urban Transit Institute — found, "The results do not support the conventional wisdom expressed in recent literature and popular press that red-light cameras reduce accidents ... Our findings are more pessimistic, finding no change in angle accidents and large increases in rear-end crashes and many other types of crashes relative to other intersections."
There is some hope that area commuters will be rescued by legal challenges and growing proof that the systems are error-prone. Earlier this month, a North Carolina court found that a local camera program violated the state constitution. The Australian government has begun to pay $26 million in compensation to recipients of inaccurate photo-radar tickets. In Britain, an electrical engineer who developed a device to verify the calibration of speed cameras found the majority were off by as much as 25 percent.
Perhaps most chilling is that the District's energetic traffic-camera program reminds us that the Metropolitan Police Department's attention is not focused on real crime fighting. For example, the FBI's 2004 Uniform Crime Reports listed 249 murders in Washington, ranking it the third-most murderous city in America. The year before the District had the highest murder rate of any big U.S. city, outgunning such rough towns as Detroit, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia. Rape, assault, arson, robbery and car thefts have also trended up in recent years.
It is time for the D.C. government to get its priorities straight and put safety first. Shaking down commuters for cash won't slow the atrocious numbers of widows, orphans and mothers with murdered children that are created in the city every year.
When revenue trumps safety in D.C.
We have to applaud the honesty of Mayor Tony Williams. As reported Wednesday in The Washington Times, the combined take of photo radar and red-light cameras in the District (since inception in 1999) is sure to hit the $100 million mark this year. Reflecting on this cash cow, Mr. Williams said the contract with Dallas-based Affiliated Computer Systems (ACS) needs to be renewed "to ensure the continued ... collection of District revenues." He made no mention of increasing road safety.
This $100 million number is the amount of fines paid. Penalties distributed but unpaid are much higher, and all figures soon will grow dramatically. Last week, Metropolitan Police Chief Charles Ramsey announced the installation of four more permanent traffic cameras (there currently is only one) and eight new mobile units. These new speed cameras won't provide any public safety benefit and they aren't intended to. The same applies to the District's 39 red-light cameras. In many cases, these cameras actually make streets more dangerous.
The most extensive U.S. study of intersection photo enforcement — released in July by the North Carolina A&T University's Urban Transit Institute — found, "The results do not support the conventional wisdom expressed in recent literature and popular press that red-light cameras reduce accidents ... Our findings are more pessimistic, finding no change in angle accidents and large increases in rear-end crashes and many other types of crashes relative to other intersections."
There is some hope that area commuters will be rescued by legal challenges and growing proof that the systems are error-prone. Earlier this month, a North Carolina court found that a local camera program violated the state constitution. The Australian government has begun to pay $26 million in compensation to recipients of inaccurate photo-radar tickets. In Britain, an electrical engineer who developed a device to verify the calibration of speed cameras found the majority were off by as much as 25 percent.
Perhaps most chilling is that the District's energetic traffic-camera program reminds us that the Metropolitan Police Department's attention is not focused on real crime fighting. For example, the FBI's 2004 Uniform Crime Reports listed 249 murders in Washington, ranking it the third-most murderous city in America. The year before the District had the highest murder rate of any big U.S. city, outgunning such rough towns as Detroit, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia. Rape, assault, arson, robbery and car thefts have also trended up in recent years.
It is time for the D.C. government to get its priorities straight and put safety first. Shaking down commuters for cash won't slow the atrocious numbers of widows, orphans and mothers with murdered children that are created in the city every year.
DeltaFox said:
http://washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20050114-083242-8605r.htm
These new speed cameras won't provide any public safety benefit and they aren't intended to. The same applies to the District's 39 red-light cameras. In many cases, these cameras actually make streets more dangerous.
Well at least they're being honest
Perhaps the studies done in US are independent of the government and so might generate facts that people can believe in. Better than PA Consulting being integral to (funded by) scamera planning and then doing a survey to "prove" they work.
Interesting commentary on the red light cameras. No reduction in jumping red lights but a large increase in rear end shunts. Perhaps they too have reduced the amber timing?
Interesting commentary on the red light cameras. No reduction in jumping red lights but a large increase in rear end shunts. Perhaps they too have reduced the amber timing?
I really do fail to see how a red-light camera can make the streets more dangerous, unless the amber is practically non-existent.
As far as I am concerned red-light cameras are good, and amber phasing out to be a standard length of time, dependent on road speed limit, then everybody knows what is what.
As far as I am concerned red-light cameras are good, and amber phasing out to be a standard length of time, dependent on road speed limit, then everybody knows what is what.
gone said:
"Cameras are for cash!"
That ultimately lies with the person who is in control of the vehicle!
If you don't want to part with your cash, then pay attention and don't exceed the limit! Its not that difficult to understand really!
Imagine, if you will folks, a loud razzberry type noise at this point.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Roadcop said:
Good evening Dave...
Thought of you today;
Was on a 'rural containment excercise'....travelled a few counties and ended up in Whitby!....
Had fish and chips by the harbour....lovely..Mmmm
Gary
Hello Gary, glad you had a good day out - at our expense.
Rural containment exercise indeed! All this fish and chips consumption will do nothing good for your power to weight ratio though.
I had a reasonable little tour today - Wetherby, Teesside, Pudsey, Harrogate, Wetherby, then home.
The Mondeo I took to Teesside did 66.3 mpg for me according to the trip computer, but then economy driving has long been one of my specialities - along with (according to 'gone' perhaps)
- being a wild and reckless tearaway. Best wishes all,
Dave.
Roadcop said:
The Mondeo I took to Teesside did 66.3 mpg for me according to the trip computer, but then economy driving has long been one of my specialities
The 2.4l, Volvo S60T5 that I drove around North Yorks today...at progress..was averaging 20mpg!!!
...well if you will insist on wearing those lead boots all the time!
Come to think of it, that's not funny - we're paying again.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
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