It is no surprise that red-light cameras don’t work. When does any government policy do what it was intend to do? I had heard about and seen these red-light cameras long ago but, it appears to be sprouting up in more and more cities lately. In fact, I came face to face with one just recently.

I was driving to Shop Rite and stopped at a red light while on the opposite side, a pick-up truck appeared to have ran past a yellow. The yellows here–New York City–are so short that its hard to tell. I had stopped at this light countless times going to this same supermarket but on this trip, a flash followed the light change. It was a red-light camera and it was definitely new.

I don’t how useful this light is or how accident prone this area is but, I’ve never noticed any problems. The idea behind these cameras is that if drivers know they are being watched, they will be less likely to run reds and therefore everyone will be safer.

Ironically, comprehensive studies have shown that these cameras have increased the number of accidents as drivers make abrupt stops at yellows instead of going through them. I have been in an accident due to a yellow light so I would say that longer yellows would make us safer than these cameras. Cities have also been known to remove red-light cameras once drivers wise up the fact that they are there and less ticket revenue is being produced. Clearly, the city is not looking out for our safety. They are looking to steal as much from us as they can.

By Tommy Leung

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Tags: red-light, red-light camera, running red lights, speeding, traffic

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