I have been on a crusade to have cameras installed at intersections to help prevent red-light running since 1999 when I received some alarming statistics. In 1997 and 1998, accidents resulting from drivers disregarding traffic signals totaled 2,624. There were 37 fatalities. I began to research the use of surveillance cameras at intersections throughout the country. In 1999, there were 1,319 accidents resulting from drivers disregarding traffic signals. There were 11 fatalities including the six residents from the Whisper Walk community. I became convinced that the County had to take action.
I took my case to the County Commission and the Board approved a two-month pilot project. The project consisted of using surveillance cameras at an intersection in the County to monitor how many vehicles ran a red light. I was dismayed at the results. During the first month, an average of fifty cars a day ran the light. The number dropped to twenty the second month following heavy publicity. One fifth of those who ran a red light did so two seconds after the light had changed. This certainly demonstrated that the use of cameras would help cut down on the red-light running and have a major impact on reducing preventable accidents, injuries and deaths. There would be fewer calls to the County’s Fire Rescue Department and to the Sheriff’s Office and less demand on our overcrowded hospital emergency rooms.
I went back to the County Commission and advocated for a law that would catch and fine red-light runners. As a result, the County made “Traffic Safety Photo Enforcement” a priority issue in 2001 and urged our Legislators to amend the statutes to permit traffic tickets to be issued using photographic evidence produced by surveillance cameras. Other states have successfully implemented programs and proved that cameras at intersections do make a difference. Bills were introduced in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 but no action was taken by the Legislature.
Bills have been filed for the 2008 Legislative Session. I have just returned from Tallahassee where I met with many legislators urging that the bills be considered and passed this year. The County has received encouraging news that we may be successful this time. I am optimistic but not convinced and so I continue the battle. At my urging, the County Commission approved placing an item on this month’s agenda to advertise for a public hearing this May. A proposed ordinance will come before the County Commission that, if adopted, will authorize the use of unmanned camera/monitoring systems to promote compliance with red light directives and adopt a civil enforcement system with penalties and an appeal process for red light violations.
We have waited long enough. If the Legislature does not pass the bills this year, we will be ready to act on a county level. It is time to win this battle. It is time for my eight-year crusade to come to an end.
Comments (2)
As a taxi driver, who is on the road daily, I witness many instances of red light running. Most, however, are due to unsynchronized lights that continuously turn red if travelling the correct speed limit between them. This makes drivers impatient and more likely to speed up and catch the red as they leave an intersection. Rarely, except at night, when there is less traffic and people are more prone to driving under the influence, do I see flagrant violations of actual red light runners when entering an intersection. For that reason, I never enter an intersection immediately on the green, without looking both ways...for my own and my passengers' safety. I am not against the cameras per se. Just trying to increase the yellow light by one second (without public announcement, if that were possible) might be a more prudent experiment to begin with. That would be much less costly and may prove what most experts have said would work. But no, as a government official, or politician, it seems that spending taxpayers' money is too easy to do. This is just another scheme to get at our bucks for "public service"...like the pavers being installed at almost every crossing in the tri-county area...what a waste. It is no wonder the people are crying for tax relief to come from the state legislature rather than the local governments for whom they voted.
Posted by les raiken | March 12, 2008 2:42 PM
Posted on March 12, 2008 14:42
I vehemently disagree with your contention that the chronic cause of traffic infractions in South Florida, most notably the running of red lights, is the fault of lights not being timed. The law says that a driver must always be in control of his or her vehicle. If a driver sees a yellow light, that means slow down, decelerate, STOP...not speed up to make the light. In my opinion the problem is a lack of enforcement. Running a red light is wreckless driving...a six-point ticket. After two infractions, a driver should lose their license...FOREVER.
I moved to South Florida several years ago. It wasn't two weeks before I got hit on a bicycle by someone running a red light.
Posted by MichaelT | May 2, 2008 2:03 PM
Posted on May 2, 2008 14:03