Photo Radar

[slim 1,533]

if you run a red light and get a ticket you have been caught driving dangerously and correcting your driving behaviour should be your priority, not evading paying fines. If people did do that, then the result would be increased safety at junctions,

Not true. When a camera takes a picture of your car, you're not caught, your car is. If they're smart enough to get a clear picture of you in the car then maybe you're caught - but only then should you consider paying a fine.

As for running a red light being unsafe, there are delays between traffic in one direction stopping and traffic in the crossing direction starting. Red light camera systems activate BEFORE it's unsafe. In the OP, he was crossing six lanes of traffic with a divider. That's what, 55 ft? We'll say 60 just to be safe. I'm assuming the posted speed limit there is 35 so even if he was slowing on approach to the intersection, even one second would've put him through the middle of the intersection and only if he was in the far right lane would a crossing direction car be even close to having the possibility of starting from a dead stop and entering the intersection before he was clear. There's a reason signals are delayed, and red light cameras aren't in place to prevent folks from causing accidents, they're in place to generate revenue, otherwise they'd simply delay the signal device from switching directions.

Either way, yes, it would be awesome if they could reduce accidents at junctions by installing red light camera systems. But, from what I've heard (from my public officials) there is no reduction in accidents.

If you believe that speed cameras are not the best way to improve safety on the roads, that's fine and dandy, start a campaign, join a campaign, find other ways to improve safety for all road users at junctions, because people not in cars using these junctions could sure use some help but getting bent out of shape because you are caught driving dangeriously and don't want to pay the fine so you find all kinds of excuses not to pay it is pathetic.

Why would we campaign for a change when we can just assert our rights and beat it in court?

I'll be looking for a sympathetic hearing to all the alcohol drivers who get 'caught' at a trap because they are also only being caught to generate income.

It's pretty hard to determine BAC by photographic evidence alone.

[Peikko 1,575]

Not true. When a camera takes a picture of your car, you're not caught, your car is. If they're smart enough to get a clear picture of you in the car then maybe you're caught - but only then should you consider paying a fine.

As for running a red light being unsafe, there are delays between traffic in one direction stopping and traffic in the crossing direction starting. Red light camera systems activate BEFORE it's unsafe. In the OP, he was crossing six lanes of traffic with a divider. That's what, 55 ft? We'll say 60 just to be safe. I'm assuming the posted speed limit there is 35 so even if he was slowing on approach to the intersection, even one second would've put him through the middle of the intersection and only if he was in the far right lane would a crossing direction car be even close to having the possibility of starting from a dead stop and entering the intersection before he was clear. There's a reason signals are delayed, and red light cameras aren't in place to prevent folks from causing accidents, they're in place to generate revenue, otherwise they'd simply delay the signal device from switching directions.

Either way, yes, it would be awesome if they could reduce accidents at junctions by installing red light camera systems. But, from what I've heard (from my public officials) there is no reduction in accidents.

Why would we campaign for a change when we can just assert our rights and beat it in court?

It's pretty hard to determine BAC by photographic evidence alone.

So, in your opinion running a red light should not even be considered bad driving, is that what you are telling me now?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

We got one of those tickets a couple of years ago. It was clearly us, they even sent us a link where we could watch the video and well... yeah... it was red when we drove into the intersection. It said on our ticket (from the city of Atlanta) that if we paid they would not contact our insurance company so we just went ahead and paid it.

May I ask how much was the ticket?

[Dave and Helena 0]

May I ask how much was the ticket?

About $50 if I remember correctly.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Well, if I did run a red light, I should pay. But I just don't remember it that way. I'm mostly concerned about how this will effect my insurance premiums.

I was just listening to talk radio and they said the yellow light is sometimes shortened on red light cameras.

not sure if this was their site

http://www.highwayrobbery.net/

Phot radar discussion on a lawyer forum.

http://www.theattorneysforum.com/traffic-l...california.html

Good luck Steve.

[slim 1,533]

I was just listening to talk radio and they said the yellow light is sometimes shortened on red light cameras.

Now how could that improve safety?

[Peikko 1,575]

Yeah, that's about the right attitude, a junction isn't a hazard and we shouldn't bother to exercise caution when approaching them. I mean, who cares about other road users? Do you know how many times I hear pedestrians being killed because of red light running, hmmmm? But, they don't count because, surely they must be illegal if they can't afford to use a car?

I don't wish Steve any harm at all but this is a bullshit attitude and that is why road safety doesn't improve.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I was just listening to talk radio and they said the yellow light is sometimes shortened on red light cameras.

not sure if this was their site

http://www.highwayrobbery.net/

Phot radar discussion on a lawyer forum.

http://www.theattorneysforum.com/traffic-l...california.html

Good luck Steve.

Thanks, Rich. I've been thinking about parking near the light and timing it to see if it has a fast yellow. If traveling speed doesn't give enough time to cross through the intersection, then I think I would at least plead my case.

[Peikko 1,575]

Thanks, Rich. I've been thinking about parking near the light and timing it to see if it has a fast yellow. If traveling speed doesn't give enough time to cross through the intersection, then I think I would at least plead my case.

You really think that's the problem? You use that junction every day and you didn't notice before? Seriously Steven, I have made mistakes when I drive and I have run red lights and you know what I have noticed? EVERY TIME I have run a red light it was because I WAS NOT PAYING ATTENTION.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Now how could that improve safety?

It will improve revenue generation.

[Peikko 1,575]

This is very frustrating, I am a regular cylist and I know how bad Americans are at approaching junctions. When on a bicycle you have to pay attention all the time because car drivers do not think anyone else will be on the crossing except themselves. Take responsibility for your bad driving and ###### improve!

[Ban Hammer 14,665]

This is very frustrating, I am a regular cylist and I know how bad Americans are at approaching junctions. When on a bicycle you have to pay attention all the time because car drivers do not think anyone else will be on the crossing except themselves. Take responsibility for your bad driving and ###### improve!

mc, is that you???

[웃 910]

In Acapulco, Mexico their green light to red light system is different than ours.

Here we have a green light that WITHOUT WARNING changes to yellow for a couple seconds and then red. My natural reaction is to hit the brakes the second that yellow flashes. I can't count the number of times I've been 15-20 feet in front of the light and instinctively slammed my breaks to come to a screeching halt.

In Mexico (at least this town) they go from:

1) Green (go)

2) Flashing yellow for a few seconds (warning that light is about to go to solid yellow; no time to panic yet)

3) Solid yellow for a few seconds (now time to hit the brake pads)

4) Solid red (stop)

Their system is a lot smoother. No need to have knee-jerk reactions as soon as that light switches to yellow.

Not sure if it is just me, but the damn lights always seem to wanna go yellow as soon as I am 15 feet in front of the light at the precise "do or die" moment, and my natural reflexes result in me hitting the brakes and coming to a rough stop instead of gently sliding through the intersection.

[Peikko 1,575]

mc, is that you???

Clearly not, I am not young, I am not blond and I don't have the body of an athlete.

Edited December 31, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[Ban Hammer 14,665]

Clearly not, I am not young, I am not blond and I don't have the body of an athlete.

i see you didn't deny wearing a thong though, like the lass in the picture