On tonight's (Thursday - 2/1/07) news, they were stating some people were complaining of the red light cameras causing more risks because people slam on their brakes when the light turns yellow.
While that's a ridiculous claim, I've begin taking issue with the red light cameras since I received my first ticket by one. They give a clear view of my car in two pictures. Undeniably, it's me. But, the third picture sized at 1.75" by 3.0" shows a tiny silver spec about the size of one-eighth that of a dime. I'm supposed to trust that is MY vehicle. At the same time, they can't provide an exploded image where my plate can be clearly seen. What's wrong with this picture? Literally!
Oh, you folks mention cell phones... I've been a courier for eleven years. I've watched traffic go from bad to worse and worse during that time in Atlanta. But, our glorious legislature won't outlaw handheld cell phones because what you do in your own vehicle is your own private space and your business. Being on public highways where you can endanger others while talking on a handheld cell phone is irrelevant. This is the same legislature that wrote pickup trucks out of the seat belt law; said clause introduced by a particular law maker who... drove a pickup truck.
I'm convinced if handheld cell phones were outlawed, traffic congestion would ease by at least fifteen percent, probably more.
By the way, given their "logic" about cell phone use... I should be able to fly my own plane whenever I choose, wherever I choose, using the equipment I have within... regardless of weather conditions without filing IFR. Hey, it's my own private space in that airplane!
The tickets are not issued by the municipality where the infraction occured. It is an independent company contracted by the municipality. There is no requrement to pay this. There is no trial and you cannot defend yourself. If I ever get one of these, it will not be paid. The worst that can happen is I get dinged on my credit report as owing the money.
Seems to me just having a converstaion in the car would have the same effect. I believe the largest danger is dialing the phone or having to dig into a pocket to answer it. Of course, lots of folks have not figured out that driving is a participatory activity either.
Ah yes, yet another reason to avoid Chicago at all cost.
As I understand it, it's actually an infrared sensor on the signal lights in the intersection where they have an infrared transmitter on the emergency vehicles to trigger it. Dunno if the signal is encoded or it just takes a bunch of IR LEDs to make the signal. There are some hackers who figured out how to duplicate the transmitter so they can get green lights. The word was you could get into serious trouble if you were found with the transmitter, but I suspect that's one more shocking hazard state legislators have to get around to protecting the populace from.
The cameras are located on the Hwy 101 loop only. The city can change up or down the speed relative to the posted speed limit which if exceeded will trigger the cameras.
Kent, while I will concede that hand-held cell phones can be more distracting than conversations in the car, I still think that the most distracting thing in the vehicle is bickering kids (or worse, kids throwing a temper tantrum). Even worse if one of them is in front! Please, find me a ligislator willing to outlaw having kids in the car!I know the research of which you speak, and I don't buy it.
Yes, attention is required for conversation, be it handheld, hands-free, or simply with pax. But, I think the act of holding the phone up to your face causes a change in focus from far and unidirectional to RIGHT HERE and people no longer percieve what's going on around them.
I base this on two things:
1) My own realizations in the rare instances I drive while talking on a hand-held phone that I'm not paying attention in the right places. With a hands-free, I don't get this at all. I can still easily turn my head and look at the mirrors and I can completely ignore the phone quite easily for a few seconds if the driving situation warrants. Do this with a handheld phone, and you'll drop the phone.
2) The stupid stunts people pull around me can be easily categorized into "*******" and "ignorant." Very nearly 100% of the Ignorant stunts are pulled by people who are holding a phone up to their face while driving. It's worse if they're the type that likes to talk with their hands.
Besides, if it really was as bad to have a conversation period as it was to be talking on a handheld cell...
... They'd have outlawed pax by now and we'd all be driving Lean Machines.
Kent, while I will concede that hand-held cell phones can be more distracting than conversations in the car, I still think that the most distracting thing in the vehicle is bickering kids (or worse, kids throwing a temper tantrum). Even worse if one of them is in front! Please, find me a ligislator willing to outlaw having kids in the car!
hmmmm... well, maybe ...
still to this day remember my dad darn near throwing out his shoulder as he swung a wild backhand that swept the back seat from passenger side to driver side one sweltering hot afternoon driving across South Dakota. Guess we pushed the old man just a might too far that day! He never even slowed down!
About a year ago I watched the stop sign out the window of a restaurant on my block. It wasn't anywhere near as high as 50% compliance then, but I think it has gotten better since this hit and run happened.
