LA Council holds the courage of their convictions

[futuredivot 0]

Until cash is on the tablehttp://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/06/23/los-angeles-makes-exception-immigration-law-boycott-traffic-camera-dispute/

You are only as strong as the prey you devour

[AggieDave 6]

But but but, traffic camera$ are for $aftey!

Right?

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[AggieDave 6]

Case in point:

Quote

The LAPD said Wednesday that "there have been no red light-related fatalities at any of these 32 intersections since these cameras were installed."

But Councilman Bill Rosendahl questioned the LAPD's findings, citing other reports that rear-end traffic collisions have nearly tripled at red light camera intersections.

How many fatal accidents were there at those intersections prior to the installation of the cameras?

Studies by TTI and others have shown that if you change the light sequence and lengthen yellow lights, then red light incursions into intersection decreases, as do fail to control speed/following too closely accident (rear end accidents).

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[wmw999 2,545]

I'd imagine that sometimes those changes are simply a reflection of the fact that something changed, which meant that people had to start thinking and reaction to what the light was actually doing, rather than what they knew it was going to do.

I wonder how many people run red lights when the light is yellow for a long time, when it's been a long yellow for quite awhile. I know that here in Clear Lake, we're roughly the red light running capital of the world, and I think that a longer yellow light would simply give more people a chance to speed up so they make it through before it turns red

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Nightingale 0]

I have seen so many people slam on their brakes at a yellow when they should've proceeded through the light, but the intersection was camera controlled. Seen two rear-end collisions at these intersections myself, both caused by the aforementioned slamming of brakes.

While the cameras may prevent fatalities by keeping people out of the intersection and reducing the likelihood of a higher speed T-bone type impact, they're definitely increasing rear end collisions.

Studies have indicated that if the yellow light is lengthened and there is a second or two where red lights overlap, incidents of both kinds of collisions drop. This seems to indicate that those communities installing red light cameras are more interested in revenue than in collision prevention.

[futuredivot 0]

Quote

more interested in revenue than in collision prevention.

Boom! Got it in one. So, I'm not sure what LA City Council's values are worth-but I know six million will cover it.

You are only as strong as the prey you devour

[billvon 3,076]

>Studies have indicated that if the yellow light is lengthened and there is a
> second or two where red lights overlap, incidents of both kinds of
>collisions drop.

I have no doubt that's true. But once Booth's risk-homeostasis theory takes over, people will run red lights that have been red for a few seconds, assured that they have some "buffer time" before anyone else comes through the light.

So then you'd have to lengthen it more - five seconds, ten seconds.

Then you'd have people being rear-ended because they are foolish enough to stop for red lights when they turn red, and other people used to the ten second delays running 'normal' reds and T-boning people.

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

Booth's risk-homeostasis theory

You know you're just itching to find a skydiving analogy to fit this.
Admitting a problem is the first step to recovery.