Red Light Traffic Cameras

[-lynx-]

Vulcan - but the system with speedcameras and red light cameras has been in place for at least 10 years here in the UK and works very simple: you pass the camera at higher speed than a speed limit, it takes two pictures, there are lines on the road to prove that you were moving fast and you get a ticket through the mail.

If it was not you driving - it's your problem to come up with the name. If you don't - you are in charge of the vehicle and you get a fixed fine + penalty points. You can go to court to argue your case but you chances there are slim to none and then you pick up the court fees as well.

They are primarily there to slow the traffic down in the areas where it's necessary and they do just that. The are not hidden - out there in plain view. If you are dumb enough to get caught by one - surely you were "driving without due care and attention" (an offence in itself)? If you know you were speeding - why would you argue you were not?

I agree it might get trickier with the red lights though but if it stops some dumbo to drive into a side of your car...

[popeye]

Would love to see these things where I live.  Red light runners are getting bolder by the day.

[Serapis]

I'm also for video cameras in emergency vehicles. Let's see, there's my important 9:00 meeting or the person fighting for life in the ambulance -- which is more important? Since it's not me in the ambulance, obviously my meeting!

I've had people lay on their horn because I slowed down and pulled over to let an ambulance pass. One time a driver in the opposite lanes almost caused an accident because he didn't think he had to pull over -- until the ambulance made a turn on a cross street in front of him.

I've talked to cops who say that people have died because of a minute's delay -- life or death can be that close sometimes.

Charon

[Tilt]

Originally posted by -lynx-:
Vulcan - but the system with speedcameras and red light cameras has been in place for at least 10 years ...

True .and on the motorway(in the UK) the high level camera's puts your face at the steering wheel..... as does most cmera systems in Germany, Holland, Belgium.....

Not to mention automatic police access to all security cameras that are watching our high streets and department building in city centres......

IMHO it has been a long time coming and very welcome.........

Tilt

[Dowding]

Yup - we've had speed cameras over here for many years, and CCTV is present in nearly all major towns and cities.

Some studies have shown that having speed cameras does reduce accident rates and therefore death rates on our roads. The benefits of CCTV is also documented, although I'm not too keen on their widespread use - they should only be deployed in areas where there is a lot of pick-pocketing or general crime.

[john9001]

we need cameras in homes, who knows what terrible crimes are being comitted in there

if your not breaking the law , what have you to fear, remember the govt is only here to protect you

[AKSWulfe]

I learned my lesson, I now survey all intersections I pull up to for cameras before I gun it through the yellow lights.
-SW

[Kieran]

It's funny that no one has mentioned how these cameras may be of assistance in determining the cause of accidents?

[ygsmilo]

I wish instead of a ticket being issued that a TOW would be launched upon the running of a red light.

I have been t-boned by a red light runner, I was injured and my car totaled. The only good thing about the ordeal was the handsomehunk who hit me ran the red light with a cop sitting next to him.  I didnt get upset until I found out later that it was the third time he had ran a light and hit someone.