Red Light Runners

I've seen that before.

It makes me pay attention when I am proceeding through an intersection.

 

Thanks for posting; i would say the main problem is that everyone is in a hurry(myself included) and the solution is to slow down, leave space between yourself and vehicle ahead of you and calm it down.

Recently, it seems i'm getting caught just as the light turns yellow and i'm just at the crucial point of going thru or stopping hence having to make sudden stops.

It seems the way most lights are timed the only way to succesfully manuver thru them is to be going at or below the speed limit.

 

What a novel idea!

 

In many cases, these red-light cameras are set up at traffic lights where the yellow is not for trucks. There have been reports, too, of when that camera gets installed, the yellow light is shortened by a few seconds. On a 10-15 second yellow, that's 20-25 % of the time you would have had before. Obviously, most of the nitwits filmed here were way after the red and should have stopped.

However, red-light cameras capture truck drivers in many cases trying to stop, but with too short a yellow. Just the other day, I tried to stop, realized I couldn't then coasted on through just as the light turned red. Other times, I jackrabbit the brakes to stop because I don't want a ticket and still end up in the intersection. I wonder...if there's a red light camera, I jackrabbit the brakes to stop for the light and the nincompoop behind me acquaints himself with my DOT bumper...is it my fault?

 

There is a specific formula for how long a yellow light should last. It takes into account the posted speed limit, the width of the intersection, and a generalised stopping distance. If they shorten the length of the yellow light for a red light camera, then it is NOT legal, and can be successfully challenged.

 

Each state differs, however, in most states, if you enter the intersection as yellow but exit red, you have NOT run a red light. Some states (Oregon is one) you must exit the intersection BEFORE it turns red, regardless of what color it was when you entered.
When I was on a task force regarding red light cameras in SoCal, I spent a lot of time in both marked and unmarked patrol vehicles monitoring intersections. I was shocked at the number of people running the light. I'm not talking about racing to get thru. I'm talking about the first car accelerating to get thru, then a second car entering red, then a THIRD car after that!
I don't know the number for other areas, however in California, in 2006, 77% of injury accidents...that's 77% of ALL injury accidents in California happened in intersections. In more than 98% of those accidents, it was either evident or alleged by at least one witness or driver that someone had run a red light.
So long as they don't shorten the yellow light, I have come 180 degrees and support red light cameras.
By the way, in California, you can challenge a red light ticket if the vehicle you're driving is not capable of stopping in the 'average' rated stopping distance. This includes trucks. These are challengable via letter to the court prior to your court date. In more than 200 cases where this was challenged by truck drivers (when I was on this commission), 100% were dismissed without further consideration.
I agree these cameras are installed for revenue. That is the political side of the intersection. But I also guarantee the police support these things virtually unanimous and in every intersection we studied, total accidents and injuries were reduced by more than 80% AFTER the installation of the cameras.
If someone rear ends another car they 'expected' to run the intersection because the first car jumped on the brakes, then the second car was following too close. It's no different than if that first car jumped on the brakes because a child ran out in front of them. It is the responsibility of EVERY driver to have their vehicle under control to the point they can safely stop in a reasonable situation.
(meteors falling from the sky and clobering the car in front of you is not a reasonable expectation).
I was on this commission as a volunteer for two years. We studied hundreds of intersections not only in California, but (via film) all over the country. There was not one intersection that showed an increase in accidents after the cameras were installed. Everyone of them showed significant reduction in accidents. This includes the intersections where later it was shown the city had shortened the yellow signal.
The person stating 'studies prove accidents increase after the installation..." is either mis informed or quoting rumors.

 

Absolutely true.

I agree that red light cameras CAN contribute to an increase in rearend accidents at intersections, but they are certainly not the sole culprit. The bottom line is that people are following too closely because they're too impatient.

 

In Caifornia 21453 a V.C. is the section for red light violations.. The yellow light has nothing at all to do with the violation. Entering the intersection on the red is the violation. I spent many years in the City Of The Angels writing tickets. Imagine if you will you enter the intersection on the green, traffic slows, stops, and you can't / don't clear the intersection til after it cahanges to red.... violation ? Nope................

 

Its been a proven fact, like it or not!

Look back a page or two and you'll see a link to a study (I think) about these cameras. I've seen the results of these cameras first hand in Newark, Ohio, thats all the proof I need!