Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Rear-end collisions rise at red-light camera intersections

The Palm Beach Post has taken a look at the accidents in West Palm Beach following the installation of red-light cameras and found:

"Rear-end collisions more than doubled and accidents increased overall in the first 70 days of red-light cameras in West Palm Beach compared to the same period of 2009..."

This is consistent with what other communities found - that while side-impact crashes may show declines, other types of accidents increase. Strangely, Toledo Police have never provided such analysis for the public to review.

I can only wonder why it is that all these other newspapers can find the time and staff to examine the 'safety' claims, but our local daily can't be bothered?

But then, we know it's all about the money, now that Toledo is actually confiscating vehicles without an order from a court if the vehicle (not necessarily the owner) has a red-light or speed camera ticket that hasn't been paid.

3 comments:

The Frizzy Hooker said...

I totally believe this. I have been honked at a few times. It is either 1. Speed up on Green ticket; 2. Red light ticket; 3. Or damage to your car with a rear-end collision.
Who has the time to evaluate which is cheaper while driving 40 mph?

Mad Jack said...

From the article: The city [West Palm Beach, FL] decided April 5 to stop enforcing slow-rolling right turns on red. Even Mayor Lois Frankel got nabbed in a right-turn case...

I think my attitude on government is getting a little jaded. The collective members of the government doesn't care how many rear-end collisions there are, or if an intersection is safer. The government wants more money and this is one easy way to get it. Just deny due process and send your police out to make collections.

West Palm is not planning to install more red light cameras. The government knows people run red lights and the government doesn't care.

As to why The Blade can't be bothered to examine traffic safety data, I speculate that it's about money and the personal agenda of the owner, Block.

Unknown said...

I bet if council could somehow give a break to seniors on red light cameras they would.

Recyclers getting a break might be entertained for a little, but in the end, the seniors would get the break.

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