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Originally Posted by GZire
This may be the case. However were any of the signal timings changed to address the root cause? For example the optimal timing for intersections should not run more than 90 seconds through the entire cycle. In high volume intersections often politicians place pressure on DOT's to modify signal timing with the feeling that longer lights mean more vehicle flow..........wrong. By reducing timing on the lights you move cars slower, however with the reduced speeds you are able to get more total cars through since the spacing between vehicles are reduced. You can only run red lights at speed in that intersection if vehicle spacing is large. I feel that given your explanation that cars are running reds at speed that the signalization is probably really messed up. The overall signalization in the area should be adjusted to allow for good through bands for vehicles.
By having poor setup it is encouraging persons to run the light since they know they will need to sit for 5 minutes before their next light comes around.
I know it's counterintuitive, but it is human nature and in most cases the trend is as described above.
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I don't know enough about it to say whether or not the light timing was changed. But I'm sure they had their own experts looking into this when planning for the cameras. I understand what you are saying about encouraging people to run the light since they know its a long light. It is human nature. I know someones I get pissed if I missed a light knowing its a long one. But this argument is like saying, you leave your door unlocked, you are inviting criminals in.....even though you might be "encouraging" criminals to come in your home, that doesnt make what they are doing right....and they shouldn't be doing it regardless.
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Originally Posted by GZire
Incorrect. I know full well how idiotic politicians are. Mind you this is politically based. Ask an engineer and they can tell you that there are other traffic calming things to do, such as speed humps or turnabouts. No one has sufficiently explained how cameras will fully exhonorate persons who have extenuating circumstances. Again what if you need to get through the intersection because of an ambulance? The ticket shows up weeks after the fact, how can you get cleared?
What about equal attention paid to jaywalkers? How will you ticket them? They are 50% of the problem. Why are vehicles targeted more so than pedestrians. Now mind you we don't have city blocks like you guys. Down here we have so many traffic lights and so many crosswalks there is no excuse not to use them, but the cars are targeted. It is an unequal application of the law.
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In regards to the Ambulance thing, I'm sure they must have thought of this. I don't know what they would do in that case but I'm sure they have some kind of plan. If anything, the Ambulance would have a record of calls they went on on a daily bases and what time the calls came in and where at. I guess thats one way of placing the Ambulance at the intersection. But, it is a stretch.....so I don't know how it would work....but hopefully they do. And jaywalkers definitely are a huge problem.....and should be ticketed more often. Maybe cameras for the jaywalkers
