Red Light Cameras ... Good?
The News Tribune is reporting today that “Red light cameras cut accidents, Tacoma police say” … contradicting nearly every independent study (pdf) on the issue. Maybe we’re doing something right. Or, maybe the headline is generalizing the statements a wee bit.
In addition, Tacoma police officials say that, thanks in part to the cameras, they are seeing a reduction in the number of traffic accidents – including fatalities – citywide.
“It’s slowing people down,” Sgt. Pete Habib said.
Traffic officers have investigated six deadly traffic accidents so far this year, compared to nine through the end of August 2007. The number of calls for more serious accidents also is down from 50 through August 2007 to 27 so far this year.
Accidents down … Yeah! Do the cameras have anything to do with it? We’ll see, I guess.
Link to The News Tribune
13 comments
N Nick September 8, 2008
Personally I think there’s a conflict of interests when the entity deciding if and how to implement red-light cameras is also the entity that receives revenue from tickets resulting from those them.
N Nick September 8, 2008
* resulting from them.
R RR Anderson September 8, 2008
This is an example of “FREE MONEY” dressed in a cheap “SAFETY” suit
A altered chords September 8, 2008
This city needs money to repair gaping potholes.
Latest estimate says it will take 20 years for the city to repave these pockmarked lunar terrain streets.
By that time, I would think they would need to start over.
I say alter the timing on these lights so that everyone who drives by gets a ticket.
C crenshaw sepulveda September 8, 2008
“I say alter the timing on these lights so that everyone who drives by gets a ticket.”
Wouldn’t that make Tacoma Fircrest?
R Ruthiblu September 8, 2008
The number of traffic accidents could be down because less cars are on the road due to gas inflation.
J Jenyum September 8, 2008
lol sepulveda.
I would think the reduction in drivers due to high gas prices would have more to do with a reduction in accidents than red light cameras.
R RR Anderson September 8, 2008
and when there is no gas and nobody is driving how will the city make money from the traffic cameras? Whatever happened to using slave labor of prisons to make money?
or whatever happened to using taxes to take care of the potholes?
A altered chords September 8, 2008
Cost of asphalt went up 80%.
Pothole repair money apparently comes from property taxes, (which went down w/ the R.E. market)
Pothole repair money apparently does not come from traffic tickets.
Traffic ticket money must pay for donuts or something.
Forget about what I said about giving everyone tickets. I’m just bitter about getting a ticket for not having my front tires pointed the correct way on a hill in Downtown.
I fought the man and got a 50% reduction. I was still out $15.00 and wanted to share the misery.
B Bob September 8, 2008
Two categories, N=15… someone ought to buy TPD a stats textbook.
R Rob McNair-Huff September 8, 2008
For what it is worth, the red-light cameras were first installed in Sept. 2007, so we are just now at a point where year-over-year statistics are a possibility. The City Council is scheduled to hear an update about the Tacoma Municipal Court, including some information about the red-light camera program, during the Sept. 16 study session at noon in the Tacoma Municipal Building North, 733 Market St., Room 16. You will also be able to listen to the meeting live or audio after the meeting by checking the appropriate links on www.tvtacoma.com.
J Jim C September 8, 2008
RR – re: “free money dressed in a cheap safety suit”: kind of like the cell phone driving law. Never mind that most bluetooth headsets have tinier and more confusing multi-function buttons than the phones themselves, or that it is painfully obvious to anyone who’s undertaken the activity that the problem isn’t with the device it is with the way our brains operate.
Government says, don’t worry though, keep talking on that phone while you’re driving; only now, pursuant to the Washington State Senate Committee on Transportation-sponsored bill ESSB 5037, in order to do it legally you need to go buy a hands-free device at about $25-$100 a pop. You’re welcome, Verizon/Sprint/W^lM^rt/1800MOBILES/Etc/Etc!
T Thorax O'Tool September 8, 2008
“Cost of asphalt went up 80%.“
The only producer of Asphalt in WA (and OR, for that matter) is US Oil, here in the scenic Port of Tacoma.
…And standard, no-frills asphalt is running $600/ton as of August. And there are 230 gallons of Asphalt to the ton.
It ain’t cheap to pave, now more than ever.