Premium Essay

Red Light Cameras

In:

Submitted By Tracy1968
Words 891
Pages 4
Marie Elkins
Professor Mcdonald
English 1302-73010
13 February 2011
A Case against Red Light Cameras In recent years technology has played an increasingly vital role in the enforcement of traffic violations and motorist safety, but not all advancements have been welcomed by the driving public. Over the last decade many cities and states have begun using red light traffic cameras to catch and fine motorists in an effort to motivate the public to drive more safely. In theory it makes great sense, however when put into practice it has yielded mixed results at best. While the number of citations issued has gone up dramatically the number of accidents has not. In fact many intersections with red light cameras installed have seen an increase in accidents. It is clear that the safety of the general population is paramount, but is red light cameras the most effective way to proceed? Once the data is analyzed it is clear that there are far safer alternatives that will also save taxpayers a great deal of money over red light cameras. In a September 2004 study by the Texas Transportation Institute conducted by James Benneson, P.E., many aspects of the way red light cameras operate were broken down by the researchers. It was discovered that in most instances the red light cameras issued citations within the first second of the light turning red. Almost all incidents of people being cited for running the red light occurred when the light turned red while the vehicle was already in the intersection. Due to the delay between the light turning from red to green in the opposite flow of traffic there was little risk of a right-angle collision, which is the most common type of collision caused by people running red lights. In all cases of right-angle collisions but one the accident occurred five or more seconds after the light had changed. Furthermore many infractions were issued

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Red Light Cameras

...Red Light Cameras Proposition Paper Violeta Gonzalez Introduction Red light cameras have been created to decrease car accidents and increase the safety at intersections. The red light cameras have increased so it can be easy to enforce citizens to not pass a red light at intersections. More than 400 cities in United States have enforced red light cameras. But yet there have been disadvantages and advantages toward red light cameras. Red Light Cameras A red light camera is a camera that photographs a vehicle when it runs a red light an intersection. It has been in use since 1986. It becomes active once the signal light turns red. Photographs are taken from front and rear of the vehicle. Once the camera captures a photograph of a person passing a red light a citation is sent home through mail to the registered owner of the vehicle. Disadvantages of having red light cameras are increasing rear-end accidents, ticket recipients are not notified, driver not being identified and invasion of privacy. Rear-accidents are being increased because it makes the driver in the front hit the brake once the light is yellow and the car behind it has not enough time to brake. Most drivers are scared to run a red light and don’t want to get a ticket. Another reason is that recipients aren’t being notified as soon as possible. The government sends the ticket as first class. They assume that the driver gets it. The case may be that the driver never got it or the government assumes that...

Words: 989 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Red-Light Cameras

...Intro: Traffic light cameras are becoming more common at the major intersections in Colorado. The “Stop Running Red Lights” program was created to raise safety awareness and reduce traffic fatalities. Americans are in such a big hurry and there are more crashes at intersections from people trying to run the red light. Red-light cameras are designed to assist communities to control traffic in enforcing laws by photographing the vehicles as the driver’s run through the red light. However if your photo doesn’t come in clear they cannot prove who the driver of the vehicle was at the time of the offense. They began installing these cameras over the last seven years and overall they have not demonstrated a decrease in property damage or bodily injury.Two cities in Colorado, Fort Collins and Greenwood Village, have actually reported intersections where accidents have actually increased since they began enforcing the red-light cameras. The city is spending a lot of revenue installing these cameras and is this really about saving lives or just bigger revenue for “Big Brother”. This program has not demonstrated a significant reduction in bodily injury and proven to reduce the number of accidents involved at intersections. I drive down Santé Fe daily and I’ve observed many drivers’ speeding down the street to get past the light because the traffic line is too long. If Driver’s are now trying to speed through the light to beat the camera, how can this program be effective...

Words: 306 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Red Light Camera

...Evelyn Solano English 102 22 March 2012 Problem Solved: Increase Yellow Light Timings The dreaded red light photo enforced tickets have caused a huge controversy not only in Chicago, but in all parts of the United States. Although more than 15 states and 21 cities have banned the use of red light cameras, Chicago doesn’t seem like it will be one to budge. The first red light camera in Chicago was placed in 2003 along with the impression that these photo enforced cameras will benefit all on the road including pedestrians and bicyclists. Red light cameras were introduced to the people as a form of protection to help ensure driver safety and reduce red light running. Since the first camera was installed, there has been a rapid spread all across Chicago to where there are even two cameras at one intersection. Based on the studies reported, there is, however, strong evidence that suggests that red light cameras are less effective than the high hopes that were placed at their inception. In this debate, I’m not asking to take down red light cameras because some people believe they are to create revenue, nor am I saying the cameras are worthwhile. The priority is to get them to work in the way they were intended to be used for not just for revenue as it has now become. Changes in the engineering aspect to create a better flow would do the best for the city of Chicago. A great amount of technology, contracting, design, and implementation goes into these traffic...

Words: 2296 - Pages: 10

Free Essay

Red Light Cameras

...Red Light cameras causes more accidents Since the red light camera law went into effect in 2010, rear-end accidents have doubled in parts of Florida (Elmore 2010). It was mainly to prevent automobiles accidents when drivers ran red lights, and was implemented at the behest of widow Mellissa Wandall who lost a family member when a stranger ran a red light. Former State Rep. Ron Reagan was the lead sponsor of the bill. The law gave Florida the power to install cameras in places where the most accident happen due to red light violations, but the Red-Light Camera Law should be put on hold until more research and studies are done because of economic and safety issues related to its use. Professor “Barbara Langland-Orban” professor and chair of Health Policy and Management at the University of South Florida, said that the red light camera does not work. (Langland-Orban 2008) The injury rate from red-light running crashes has dropped by a third in less than a decade, indicating red-light running crashes have been continually declining in Florida without the use of cameras.. ( Johnson 2008 ) Comprehensive studies conducted by the Virginia transportation Research Council found that cameras were linked to increase crash cost (Garber and Miller 2007). People panic when coming to an intersection with cameras and tend to jump on the brake without looking to the rear for fear of getting a citation on the mail. The state of Florida conducted a poll asking if the camera law should...

Words: 505 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Argumentative Essay: Should There Be Red Light Cameras?

...The argument is waether there should be red light cameras. I think that there should be red light cameras for many reasons im going to explain to you. First, the artical states that " The National Highway Traffic SAftey Administration states that running red lights causes hundreds of traffic fatalities and thousands of injuries annualy." if they add these red light cameras it would stop these people from running red lights because they would be sent a ticket. Adding these cameras could drop the amount of frount-into-side accident by 25%. Second, if they get awaqy with it the first time they might do it again. if these cameras arent added then these pople that run red lights wouldnt get in trouble for their crime and the'll just do it again,...

Words: 261 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Redlight Cameras

...The dreaded red light photo enforced tickets have caused a huge controversy not only in Chicago, but in all parts of the United States. Although more than 15 states and 21 cities have banned the use of red light cameras, Chicago doesn’t seem like it will be one to budge. The first red light camera in Chicago was placed in 2003 along with the impression that these photo enforced cameras will benefit all on the road including pedestrians and bicyclists. Red light cameras were introduced to the people as a form of protection to help ensure driver safety and reduce red light running. Since the first camera was installed, there has been a rapid spread all across Chicago to where there are even two cameras at one intersection. Based on the studies reported, there is, however, strong evidence that suggests that red light cameras are less effective than the high hopes that were placed at their inception. In this debate, I’m not asking to take down red light cameras because some people believe they are to create revenue, nor am I saying the cameras are worthwhile. The priority is to get them to work in the way they were intended to be used for not just for revenue as it has now become. Changes in the engineering aspect to create a better flow would do the best for the city of Chicago. A great amount of technology, contracting, design, and implementation goes into these traffic signals we use every day which help keep road regulation smooth and safe. Although road signals...

Words: 328 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Born Into Brothel Review

...[pic] Intro___________________________________________ Born into Brothels; a documentary directed, produced and written by Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman which revealed one of the darkest sights of rising INDIA. It is based on eight children of prostitutes in Calcutta’s red light area. This American documentary film was released in 2004 won the academy award in the Best Documentary Feature category. The film was also honored into various prestigious film festivals such as- Bermuda International Film Festival (2004), Cleveland International Film Festival (2004), National Board of Review Award for Best Documentary (2004). The Happenings_____________________________________ Basically the documentary started when Briski, a documentary photographer, went to Calcutta and made friendship with eight little kids (Kochi, Avijit, Shanti Das, Manik, Puja Mukerjee, Gou,r Suchitra and Tapasi Mamuni). Briski taught those kids basic photography and the children quickly adopted the lesson. In the movie the children talked about their fear, dream and sorrows. As an example- Suchitra tells about her fear that she could be forced to join as a prostitute worker, Avijit tells about his dream and his family. Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman tried to bring out the picture of the life of those children who dare to see dreams. Briski also showed her effort to send the children’s to the school and to help them create their new identity. Technical Insights________________________________ ...

Words: 612 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Born Into Brothels Film Analysis

...Born into Brothels is a documentary focusing on the lives of a group of children who were born and live in the “red light” district of India, specifically the children of prostitutes. The documentary was well received by critics and won multiple awards, including an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. With such positive reception, it is important to examine what made this documentary so successful; its success can be broken down into two main components, method of delivery and subject matter. The film is shot almost entirely by a single camera, with no additional cameramen or microphone equipment. Much of the footage from the early part of the film was not intended to be included in the documentary, but was a side note of the Zana Briski’s original intent filming her experience in the red light district of India. However, as she got to know the children she began focusing the filming more on them and their situation. This leads the camera work related to the children in the early part of the file to be very rough, as Briski is often holding the camera while trying to interact with the children. When Briski is not holding the camera it is in a stationary position filming her, so it cannot capture the children’s part of the scene easily, only their voices. This is one of the film’s strengths, as it gives a first person feel to the storytelling, placing the viewer with the children and in the city just as Briski experienced it rather than just observing it in travel log...

Words: 779 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Born Into Brothels

...Calcutta’s Sonagachi Red Light District in India. The film starts with a close up shot of a young girl’s face. All throughout the beginning, lots of transitions are used by the editor. The scenes switch back and fourth of the busy street where women line up to sell themselves for money, then the focus is on the children’s face again. The innocence shows in their eyes, but they already know what happens behind closed doors, and they know soon it’s their turn to “join the line”. The scenes are filled with still images of the residents of the Red Light District. The film depicts a hard life for these women and their children. It saddens me deeply that this is the fate of many girls in impoverished countries. Without help many of these precious children will be prostituting themselves soon, because they are forced by their ignorant parents and their poverty. What a clever way to make this film! To live with them and form a friendship during the filming process, and to help these children to not end up like their mothers did. A lot of b-roll footage and the children’s photos are shown throughout the film. The camera follows the children around in a Cinema verite fashion to capture the action. The footage is shaky but the content of the film is so powerful it doesn’t matter. The film has the feel of a home video. The kids at the beach are carefree and on the way home on the bus, as they dance and sing and they’re so happy. Seems that because the camera always points upward...

Words: 626 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Movie Review and Analysis Paper Nefarious

...into my personal opinions about the movie and how it affected me and impacted my outlook on the subjects presented in the movie. Movie Review During our class time, we reviewed an inspirational movie called “Nefarious: Merchant of Souls.” This film is a documentary of modern day sex trafficking and slavery. Though out the movie the movie producers and directors travel to 19 countries that are centers for major sex trafficking including, Cambodia, Thailand, Moldova, Las Vegas and Amsterdam’s Red Light District with most of the women being sold coming from the Eastern European areas. This documentary goes beyond the black and white facts about the sex trafficking industry and how it works. They go beyond the factor of just poverty and how it meshes with prostitution and sex trafficking; it informs the audience of the law in different areas of the world. For example, prostitution is a legal act in Amsterdam. During the film the movie producers and directors take a trip down the Red Light District and film many girls standing in windows making sexual gestures to, in their hopes, to catch the eye of a man willing to pay them for sexual activity. The producers do a great job of investigating the harsh conditions that the girls have to go through during their work. There even has to be a panic button placed in most of the rooms to ensure the women are “safe” and so the men will not hurt the girls without her receiving “help”. These...

Words: 1203 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Longinotto Vs Woman

...The Day I Will Never Forget by filmmaker Kim Longinotto and Born in the USA by filmmakers Marcia Jarmel and Ken Schneider both attempt to address controversial issues in women’s health. The Day I Will Never Forget examines the continued practice of female genital mutilation in Kenya. Born in the USA focuses on birthing practices in the United States. Each filmmaker attempts to present a balanced view on the issues, however, both end up presenting a stronger opinion leaning one way or the other: Longinotto’s film advocates for the eradication of female genital mutilation, and Jarmel and Schneider’s film argue for more use of midwives. Female genital mutilation is a procedure that involves the partial or complete removal of the external female...

Words: 602 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Born Into Brothels Analysis

...Born into Brothels is a documentary style film that follows around the children that live in the red light district in Calcutta. All of the children's mothers are prostitutes in the brothel to make sure they will have enough to survive. Some of the mother's care and talk about sending the kids off to university and some think of the children as a burden. This film was engaging because of the way it portrayed the children's lives, it made me feel sympathy and sadness for them, and it allows you to become invested in the children. The film did not portray the lives of these children in a way that made it seem like it was just a bad situation for the time being and they would eventually get out of the red light district. The documentary was...

Words: 574 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Uttilitarianism and Kantian Ethics

...Ethical issue: Is it ethical for the hotel to organize trips to the “Red Light” area for the purpose of boosting occupancy rates? According to Act Utilitarianism, The affected parties are: * Hotel Management (CEO – Jeronimo) * The Red Light package may boost the occupancy rate of the hotel, giving the hotel a significant source of revenue, which will ease the pressure from the shareholders. (Pleasure) * It may damage the hotel’s reputation since it is likely, that from this moment onwards, the hotel will somehow be associated with the Red Light in the minds of potential guests. (Pain) * It might affect the work ambience in the hotel, as some employees might not agree with the strategy implemented. This might even serve as a potential danger to the female staff.(Pain) * Guests * The Red Light package may provide some of the guests with a more convenient means to visit Red Light district who would like to engage in such activities. (Pleasure) * But this might lead to some guests contracting sexually transmitted diseases, should they not know how to protect themselves. (Pain) * But this might be a problem to the other guests who have no interest in such a service and could be doubted on their intentions to stay in such a hotel. Hence, loyal customers might avoid the hotel due to its new reputation. (Pain) * This is also not good for those guests who book as a family, especially those with young children. They may get...

Words: 756 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Photo Enforced Cameras

...intersection and noticed multiple flashing lights coming from a box near the intersection when a car passes the white line? That box near the intersection is known as a red light photo enforcement camera. Its purpose is to record surveillance of all people violating any traffic laws associated with red lights and intersection. They take constant video footage and take pictures of the person committing an offence, their vehicle, and their license plate. When all of the footage is captured, it is sent directly to the local township police where it is reviewed and processed for a ticket to be mailed to the violator’s home. The original intended purpose of these cameras was to reduce the amount of traffic accidents occurring at intersections. Even though some people believe that red light cameras prevent accidents at intersections, red light cameras should be outlawed in the state of Illinois. Today, I will discuss how red light cameras actually cause more accidents than they prevent, are only a source of revenue for the townships that own them and it is unfair for many of the people who receive tickets from these cameras. Transition: To begin, I will speak about all of the problems that have arisen due to red light cameras. II. Body a. Problems i. The first problem I will discuss is the fact that the red light cameras actually cause more accidents than they prevent. Even though the original purpose of implementing the red light cameras was to reduce the amount of traffic accidents...

Words: 1403 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Us Agasint the Camers

...The Cameras. Have you ever received a ticket for running a red light? If not, maybe you know someone who has, or you’ve witnessed that flash of light going off while sitting at an intersection. Either way you’re not alone, hundreds of U.S. citizens fall victim to red light camera tickets daily. Imagine you’re driving home from a hard day of work, and you have been driving the same exact route for the last seven years without receiving a red light camera citation. One day to your surprise you open the mail and find not one, but four separate tickets for rolling through a right turn on red. You begin to get a sick feeling in your stomach when you realize that each ticket is going to cost you 100 dollars. Sounds horrible, right? This is a true story that happened to a women named Oumou Wague, from Chicago. “I was stunned,” the 42 year old hair salon owner said in an interview. “I knew right away there was something wrong. I knew that camera was broken, but you can’t fight City Hall- and that is a fact.”(Kidwell and Richards). Like many other stories out there, Wague was caught by a faulty camera system. After averaging just three tickets a day, the camera that caught her was suddenly averaging 33 tickets per day, then out of nowhere the ticket spree ended (Kidwell and Richards). Many question whether or not these red light camera systems were malfunctioning or being tinkered with by local authorities. Instead of increasing safer driving conditions, the use of red light camera enforcement...

Words: 2326 - Pages: 10