Red Light Cams Causing Increase in Collisions At Intersections

**TXCharlie** · 11-03-06, 02:38 PM

Of course, the true measure of all this would be Death & Injury statistics, not a count of collisions

http://www.nbc5i.com/news/10233271/detail.html

POSTED: 9:33 am CST November 3, 2006
UPDATED: 10:11 am CST November 3, 2006

PLANO, Texas -- Red light cameras are going up all over north Texas, and hundreds of motorists are getting citations in the mail each month for running red lights, but one intersection in Plano has seen a significant minor accidents increase in the past 6 months as people slam on their brakes.

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Resident Sylvia Edgington has a different attitude when she goes through a Plano intersection now that four of them have red-light cameras.

“Used to be yellow meant speed up, now it really means slow,” she said.

Others are getting the message to drive safer.

There were 2400 red-light violations when the cameras were installed in March.

“Wow, that's saving lives,” Plano resident Ellie Carruth said.

But while the number of red-light crashes dropped 50 percent in those 6 months, the number of rear-end collisions has increased by 50 percent.

“I have reviewed the tapes to see if people have slammed on brakes because cameras are present,” Plano police spokesman Jeff Wise said.

**10-42Adam** · 11-03-06, 02:45 PM

If it isn't one thing....it's another.

**KaiGywer** · 11-03-06, 02:53 PM

People gotta complain about something..

**kay88** · 11-03-06, 03:29 PM

This is true Kai. Interestingly enough, people are complaining about them, but they are there to pretty much make sure people are following the law, aren't they? So people are starting to complain about following the law...i guess that's not so new...

**Ducky** · 11-03-06, 05:37 PM

Hmmm, fender bender vs a T-bone. It sounds like people were following too closely to begin with.

**KaiGywer** · 11-03-06, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by Ducky

Hmmm, fender bender vs a T-bone. It sounds like people were following too closely to begin with.

But it's not their fault...it's the mean cops for putting up cameras. People can't be at fault you know...

**Radar** · 11-03-06, 07:05 PM

The part I like is it's alot easier for me to figure out the responsible party for a rear-ender accident than a "my light was green officer. NO, that bitch is lying MY LIGHT WAS GREEN!!!!" accident.

**KaiGywer** · 11-03-06, 07:23 PM

Always some positives

**Willowdared** · 11-03-06, 07:25 PM

Pretty solid evidence that the entire town of Plano needs to take Driver's Ed again.

**TXCharlie** · 11-03-06, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by PDawg

Pretty solid evidence that the entire town of Plano needs to take Driver's Ed again.

You haven't lived till you travel the Plano corridor of Central Expressway - Picture a bumper-to-bumper traffic jam traveling at either 75 MPH or 10 MPH, depending on whether you're talking about now or thrity seconds from now

**Willowdared** · 11-04-06, 01:13 AM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

You haven't lived till you travel the Plano corridor of Central Expressway - Picture a bumper-to-bumper traffic jam traveling at either 75 MPH or 10 MPH, depending on whether you're talking about now or thrity seconds from now

That's a normal commute anywhere in San Diego County.

**Buttercup** · 11-04-06, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

You haven't lived till you travel the Plano corridor of Central Expressway - Picture a bumper-to-bumper traffic jam traveling at either 75 MPH or 10 MPH, depending on whether you're talking about now or thrity seconds from now

I've been in that corridor a few times and it was no fun at all. Except when I was a passenger.