Red light running

[Bryant5493]

I just heard about LA Angels pitcher, Nick Adenhart, being killed by a red light runner. I've not heard of him before this incident, but my prayers go out to his family, friends and teammates.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,513597,00.html

Is right light running a big problem in your city? In Metro Atlanta, it's a real big problem.

EDIT: I'm anti-red light camera, as I don't think it really curbs the problem. People are going to run red lights regardless.


Be well,

Bryant

[Chris]

The fine for running a red light in the Netherlands is about 200 dollars. I don't see many people running a red light here, or it has to be the last second when the orange light turns red.

[PAHighways]

It is a big problem in my part of Pennsylvania, so much so when the light turns green, I wait a few seconds and look each way before proceeding.

If red light camera usage spread across the Commonwealth and fines from ones along state routes funneled to PennDOT, they could have a budget surplus!

[AZDude]

Arizona is the number one state for red light running.    While I am for red light cameras, I don't know how they are calibrated.  Almost everyday I see the cameras flashing and it lights up the night like lightning! 

If you are completing a left turn while the yellow arrow turns red there is a good chance that there will be a car or two following right behind you long after the light turns red.

At one time in Peoria (they might still be there) there were signs on the left turn signals that said "Red means STOP!" 

I've had some experience with what people here in Phoenix do.  After the arrow turns red these people don't stop turning!  Your light will be green but you can't move because they are in your way!

[Alex]

Red light running is a nationwide problem. The more traffic lights added, the more it will happen, and that seems to be the answer to all traffic problems...installing more traffic lights. I've seen three new signals added to my area within the 5 months.

Every time I go back to Delaware, I encounter one to three new signals. I encounter a new one in Mobile every 6 months or so as well. Its out of control!

[SSOWorld]

Here are two examples, the town I live in has 7 signals. (when I moved in there were only 3) - population 10000 (not including the students) 

The town I was born in has has 20 signals (orignally when I first was aware it had only 5) - population 8000. 

Someone find me a roundabout! 

[Bryant5493]

^^ Thank you, I love roundabouts. Wish there were more in Atlanta.


Be well,

Bryant

[Scott5114]

Not only that, but remember, the basic reason people run the reds because they don't want to wait. If you have a lot of red-light running at particular intersection, perhaps they should check if the red phase is too long??

Oh, silly me, they can't do that; it'd make too much sense.

[74/171FAN]

Actually in VA they originally had to take the cameras down as they lowered the length of the yellow light to catch more red light runners and make money.  However, cameras are starting to come back here though.

[Bryant5493]

In Snellville (GA), the red light cameras were turned off because they weren't paying off anymore. And I thought that they were for safety.

http://wsbradio.com/localnews/2009/03/snellville-suspends-red-light.html

Here's a video that I put up on YouTube. I sent a copy of it to GDOT Metro District (Dist. 7) engineer. One of the engineers called me and said that they would make a few changes to the signal timing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCpY9zFRfEE

Lastly, here's a dangerous intersection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbZm5qHXVTE


Be well,

Bryant

[74/171FAN]

I was under the impression that the General Assembly has not approved the return of red light cameras.  Or did they pass it while I wasn't looking?

The GA approved for it back in 2007; however, the intersections have to be approved by VDOT. See http://www.virginiadot.org/info/photored.asp

[ComputerGuy]

Great videos...red light running is common over here so red-light cameras are needed! They already are in use in Lynnwood and Lakewood (near Tacoma).

[Bryant5493]

^^ Thanks, CG.


Be well,

Bryant

[deathtopumpkins]

froggie and 74/171: They must have been approved because a few years ago Newport News installed a few along Jefferson Ave. (VA-143) and Virginia Beach I heard was going to install a few. Then a few months later I read a newspaper article saying that the cities were getting mixed results from them (i.e. there were too many problems and they weren't really paying for themselves), but I haven't heard anything since.

I personally despise red light cameras... I would not trust a machine to determine whether I ran the light or not... what if it malfunctions?

[Bryant5493]

^^ Well, they say that a police officer looks at every violation, personally, to see if it's actually a red light violation. But, I'm skeptical.


Be well,

Bryant

[deathtopumpkins]

I highly doubt that... and besides, was the cop there to see the circumstances under which the pic was taken?

[Bryant5493]

^^ Well, it's something that one of the local Atlanta news stations did a report on awhile back when Atlanta was starting to get into the red light camera craze. So, I don't know.


Be well,

Bryant

[Chris]

Maybe there are too much traffic signals on surface streets... I mean drive across Manhattan, or from Santa Monica to Downtown LA. The amount of traffic lights you have to negotiate is huge. Synchronized traffic lights can help a lot. I drove through the Germany city of Düsseldorf friday (population: 600,000 metro: 10 million), and I didn't have to wait at a single traffic light, while I passed like 12 - 15 of them!)

I made a video of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk1CiCWXUTk

[deathtopumpkins]

HA! That's funny... here all the lights seem to be on random timers. I've tried to detect a pattern but haven't managed to. Besides, most lights around here have sensors instead of just a timer to cycle between directions. For example the other day I went through a light that just went back and forth between thru and turning traffic, never letting cross traffic go because there was none.

[Bryant5493]

One area of Metro Atlanta that's doing better with traffic light timing is Clayton County, GA. Several intersections are getting signal upgrades: these include mast arm assemblages, illuminated traffic light-mounted street name signs (YAY!) and pedestrian crossing signals, along with marked pedestrians crossing. Also, the traffic light assemblages include cameras (not photo cameras), but traffic monitoring cameras, that help to manage the signals better. The routes that have these installed are SR 85 and portions of SR 54. SR 139 and SR 314 are in the works, so I've heard.

This, I think, will help (not eliminate) cut on down on driver impatience and red light running.



Be well,

Bryant

[Bryant5493]

Red Light Camera Story (courtesy of wsbtv.com):
http://www.wsbtv.com/2investigates/19385956/detail.html


Be well,

Bryant