Red light cameras: bad invention or the worst invention

[amazingfantasy15]

So on my way to the doctor this morning, I had to slam on my brakes to avoid getting a red light photo ticket. In exchange I got rear ended! How exactly do red light cameras help?

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

you really have to ask why a camera that prevents people from running red lights helps?

 

[POWdER-man]

That stinks. IDK, we don't have any around where I live. Does it activate if the light was yellow when you are in the intersection, but turned red when you were still in the intersection?

 

[Majic Walrus]

So on my way to the doctor this morning, I had to slam on my brakes to avoid getting a red light photo ticket. In exchange I got rear ended! How exactly do red light cameras help?

Why didn't you just slow down before the light changed?

 

[amazingfantasy15]

That stinks. IDK, we don't have any around where I live. Does it activate if the light was yellow when you are in the intersection, but turned red when you were still in the intersection?

That's exactly how it works.

you really have to ask why a camera that prevents people from running red lights helps?

There's been many reports that it doesn't help traffic at all, it actually increases traffic and accidents because situations like the one I was in occur.

Why didn't you just slow down before the light changed?

I was going the speed limit, I had two options speed up, go through the yellow light and get a ticket when it turned red when I was halfway through (which is actually what they teach in driver's ed) or stop suddenly and get hit.

 

[Marx]

I think red light cameras are incredibly dangerous. You either have to speed up to make sure you clear the intersection, or slam on the breaks...there's no in between.

 

[Casius--J]

I think red light cameras are incredibly dangerous. You either have to speed up to make sure you clear the intersection, or slam on the breaks...there's no in between.

Exactly this, I've never been caught out either way myself but I usually get to stop in time or built up enough speed to not get flashed.

 

[Bill]

I think red light cameras are incredibly dangerous. You either have to speed up to make sure you clear the intersection, or slam on the breaks...there's no in between.

OR, seeing that you have what's known as a stale green light, slow up a bit to anticipate a yellow or the follow-up red light. Intersections themselves are dangerous. You really shouldn't be speeding through them without clearing them (looking both ways) anyway. Getting rear-ended=bad. Getting broad-sided=very, very bad.

 

[C. Lee]

If you follow the laws of the road....then there shouldn't be any problem.

 

[redmarvel]

That stinks. IDK, we don't have any around where I live. Does it activate if the light was yellow when you are in the intersection, but turned red when you were still in the intersection?

Here in Toronto they only activate if you enter on the Red. However, running a yellow is the exact same ticket as running a red if you could have stopped safely.

 

[redmarvel]

OR, seeing that you have what's known as a stale green light, slow up a bit to anticipate a yellow or the follow-up red light. Intersections themselves are dangerous. You really shouldn't be speeding through them without clearing them (looking both ways) anyway. Getting rear-ended=bad. Getting broad-sided=very, very bad.

And that's what Young Drivers of Canada teaches. Also to be aware of vehicles behind you so you are not slamming on the breaks when you'll be rear ended (you should be checking your rear view mirror every 3 to 5 seconds).

 

[Bnightwing]

Use reflective paint, it's not against the law.

 

[Marx]

If you follow the laws of the road....then there shouldn't be any problem.

You can still be an incredibly safe driver find yourself in an awkward and unsafe position because of these cameras.

 

[imaperson2]

I hate these cameras! But they actually only count if you entered the intersection when the light was already red...or if it was close enough to being red.

I have passed through several intersections while it was yellow/turned red while I was still in and I haven't gotten any tickets in the mail!

 

[Majic Walrus]

I was going the speed limit, I had two options speed up, go through the yellow light and get a ticket when it turned red when I was halfway through (which is actually what they teach in driver's ed) or stop suddenly and get hit.

If the light turned yellow and you were close enough to the light to enter the intersection before the light turned red then you're safe. If the light had been yellow for some time you should already have been slowing down.

But just out of curiosity when the dude rear-ended you did you call the cops? Did he get a ticket?

 

[Spider-Who?]

So on my way to the doctor this morning, I had to slam on my brakes to avoid getting a red light photo ticket. In exchange I got rear ended! How exactly do red light cameras help?

hate to say it, but if you had to "slam" on your breaks to avoid running a red light, then its quite obvious you really weren't paying attention to the light at the intersection.

There is plenty of time given between green, yellow, and red lights to avoid being surprised by them - if you're actually fully focused on driving and aware of what is going on at least 20 seconds ahead of you.

I'm sorry you got rear-ended, (its obvious they weren't paying attention to rules of the road and staying far enough away from you); but really, if you had been driving better, you could have avoided both a ticket and the accident.

Hope you're all right.

 

[imaperson2]

^
Have to agree with Spiderwho

 

[Hound55]

Here in Toronto they only activate if you enter on the Red. However, running a yellow is the exact same ticket as running a red if you could have stopped safely.

This is the same on Australia, however its seldom the case that anyone will get caught running a yellow, you pretty much need an officer on scene who is bored and looking for something to do...

 

[Victarion]

I enjoy flipping them off.

 

[Hotwire]

hate to say it, but if you had to "slam" on your breaks to avoid running a red light, then its quite obvious you really weren't paying attention to the light at the intersection.

There is plenty of time given between green, yellow, and red lights to avoid being surprised by them - if you're actually fully focused on driving and aware of what is going on at least 20 seconds ahead of you.

I'm sorry you got rear-ended, (its obvious they weren't paying attention to rules of the road and staying far enough away from you); but really, if you had been driving better, you could have avoided both a ticket and the accident.

Hope you're all right.

Exactly what he said. I've had to slam on my brakes at a red light before, but it was because I was distracted, not because there was a camera.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

If the light turned yellow and you were close enough to the light to enter the intersection before the light turned red then you're safe. If the light had been yellow for some time you should already have been slowing down.

But just out of curiosity when the dude rear-ended you did you call the cops? Did he get a ticket?

I'm not sure if he got a ticket. We did call the cops, but since there wasn't much damage, they told us to go to the police station and fill out a police report. Problem was the police station was surrounded by tow zones, so it was a b*tch to park our cars. I was in the police station for 30-45 minutes waiting for him to find a spot, thought he just decided to drive off, so gave the police my information (so I didn't get accused of hit and run) and left, halfway home I got a call saying he came in. So there was a good 15-20 minutes, in which he could've gotten a ticket.

hate to say it, but if you had to "slam" on your breaks to avoid running a red light, then its quite obvious you really weren't paying attention to the light at the intersection.

There is plenty of time given between green, yellow, and red lights to avoid being surprised by them - if you're actually fully focused on driving and aware of what is going on at least 20 seconds ahead of you.

I'm sorry you got rear-ended, (its obvious they weren't paying attention to rules of the road and staying far enough away from you); but really, if you had been driving better, you could have avoided both a ticket and the accident.

Hope you're all right.

Yes, I could've anticipated the light better. I still stand by my stance that red light cameras are dangerous though and are put up for revenue generation over safety.

 

[huskerwebhead]

Yes, I could've anticipated the light better.

Annnnnnd, you solved your own problem. Sorry, but you created the problem, not the camera. You weren't paying attention and had to make a split second decision between speeding up (potentially dangerous) or slamming on your brakes (potentially dangerous) which got you into an accident. Your other option was to continue through the light at your current "safe" speed and accept the ticket and your responsibility for not paying attention. Suck it up.

Red Lights are "supposed" to be timed so that if you are driving within the stated speed limit and when the light changes from green to yellow you have ample time to slow down safely. If the timing is incorrect, too short for example, then you can fight the ticket. If it's correct, then you're simply SOL.

 

[Erzengel]

Red light stop, green light go, yellow light go very fast.

 

[Hound55]

At the same time, he rear-ended you... which down here would make him liable because you're supposed to allow enough space for if things like this happen.

 

[huskerwebhead]

At the same time, he rear-ended you... which down here would make him liable because you're supposed to allow enough space for if things like this happen.

rear-ending someone doesn't automatically make them at fault. Take, for example, someone who decides to slam on their brakes because the person behind them is riding their ass. Generally, the person who slammed on their brakes will be at fault: reckless driving. Basically "willfully causing an accident or dangerous situation." The person riding the ass would get a tailgating ticket as well though but not be considered "at fault."

I was actually a witness to an accident exactly as described above and had to give my account of what I saw to the police officer. This is what he explained to me about who was at fault. I can't say that it's the norm or the same everywhere, but that's how he explained it to me.