Letters To The Editor On Red Light Cameras
Red-light cameras should be banned in PA. If we had best-practice engineering and enforcement, then practically nobody would ever “run” a light. Most people do not “run” a light on purpose. Taking money from these grants sends the message that all this is OK. Please note that the Philly Inquirer ran a story in 2017 saying that some of these cams had accuracy rates of 3%.
It was reported multiple times that crashes went UP in Philly at red-light camera intersections.
Nationwide, yellows may be too short, people can be cited a split-second after the lights change, for stopping over the stop line, or a non-complete stop for a right-on-red turn. Who can defend this setup?
All we need are speed limits set to the 85th percentile free-flowing traffic speed, longer yellows, decent length all-red intervals, and sensors to keep an all-red if someone enters late. No crashes! Can also sync lights and use sensors to change them and know where cars are. After simple changes are made, only egregious violators should ever be cited.
James Sikorski Jr.Wapwallopen Pa
Bensalem will indeed profit from red light camera revenue. PennDOT will favor Bensalem with ARLE grants [https://www.dot.state.pa.us/public/Bureaus/BOMO/Portal/ARLE_Info.pdf] which is red light camera ticket money that goes to Harrisburg to be doled out to the favored, for agreeing to install red light cameras and for not lengthening yellow light duration, which would simultaneously make the intersections safer but also make the cameras unprofitable. In essence, Bensalem is trading greater safety for the money.
Tom McCarey