OFF TOPIC Traffic light cameras

[Jed Rothwell]

Red light and speed cameras are tremendously effective ways to reduce traffic violations, accidents and fatalities. From today's Washington Post editorial "Red Lights? Green Light:"

"* In August 1999, the first month of the program, the city's first red-light intersection safety camera at New York Avenue and Fourth Street NW captured 7,598 red-light violations. By January 2005, violations had dropped 86 percent, to 1,063.

* October 1999: East Capitol Street and Benning Road NE, 1,159 violations. January 2005: 172 violations, an 85 percent reduction.

* July 2000: Wisconsin Avenue and Brandywine Street NW, 1,365 violations. January 2005: 156 violations, an 89 percent reduction.

Last year the District recorded 45 traffic fatalities -- the lowest annual total in 18 years. Chief Ramsey noted that the number of fatalities caused by speeding has been cut in half in the four years that photo radar has been in operation, from 38 in 2001 to 17 in 2004."

Many people of a libertarian or conservative bent have objected to these cameras, because they are a form of government surveillance and Big Brother-ism. I agree they are, but I support them anyway. As a frequent pedestrian I have almost been run over three times by people running red lights at high speed. (By "almost," I mean they came within inches.) Security cameras, traffic cameras and the security check at airports are bothersome, an invasion of privacy, inefficient, but absolutely essential. This is an example of irksome, lousy technology we do not like but we must have.

In the book, in Chapter 17, I describe the ultimate future solution to automobile safety: eliminate the driver completely, with fully automated cars. People who enjoy driving cars manually will still be allowed to do it, of course, but only as a hobby, and not on public streets. In the book I suggest that we put aside a few highways as National Parks for auto buffs to drive on. I wrote:

"[Although people do enjoy driving] . . . the highway system is not intended to give people psychological satisfaction, or a means to express themselves. It is a public transportation system, no different from an elevator. Automatic cars and underground roads would triple the average speed of travel and save 40,000 lives per year in the U.S. alone, so the vast majority of commuters would prefer them, even though they will make life more regulated and a little less colorful and exciting."

- Jed