Dan McGrath wrote: > Whoah. Slow it down, there fellow citizens. A study in VA > (by people who favor red-light cameras) found that the use > of them increases injuries. I strongly encourage everyone to > look at this before jumping on the automated law-enforcement > bandwagon. > http://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/news.asp?ID=117
I posted a link to a NYT's article on this subject a while back. Yes, rear-end collisions increase, but side impact collisions decrease. Rear-end collisions normally occur at much slower speeds than side impact collisions and the injuries are less severe. I think that rear-end collisions can also be reduced by a public awareness campaign prior to installing cameras. Personally, I think that cameras should also be placed randomly at even low collision intersections. Placing them only at downtown intersections will only impact behavior downtown, not around town. This is also a reason why this shouldn't be done with a corporate partner via profit sharing. Scott McGerik wrote: > I agree with Mark Synder that red light cameras might be an effective > tool for law enforcement. What I find missing in much of the red light > camera discussion, however, is the subject of personal responsibility. > At some point, I realized that complaining about how bad other drivers > are would not prevent an accident. I can't protect myself from ever > getting in an accident but I certainly can prevent some by being a > cautious driver. Mr. McGerik is right, a discussion of personal responsibility is lacking. Drivers should acknowledge their responsibility to protect the health and lives of other people on the road. I can admit that this is two sides of the same coin, but the problem is that sides are not equal. I've protect my house from being burglarized by various means, but I also expect law enforcement and the courts to do as much as they can as well. If there were some low cost (legal) alternative that they could take to reduce the burglary rate then I expect them do it. Sure, I can look both ways on Green lights. I can ask for side airbags as an option when I buy a car. I can check the crash ratings and choose accordingly, but I still don't want some jackass coming through the passenger door at 45mph and crushing my four year old. Michael Atherton Prospect Park REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
