The Return of The Chicagoist Reader Meet-Up
Notre Dame Fan Takes It Too Far, Allegedly Punches Clausen
County Sales Tax Rollback Vetoed - Here We Go Again
World's Largest Wearable LED Display At The MSI
Dairyland Greyhounds Available for Adoption
There's one thing many of Chicago's drivers will find positive from the latest city budget shortfalls -- the Chicago Department of Transportation has stopped installing the loathed red light cameras around the city for now because there's simply no cash to buy new ones. But that doesn't mean you can count on the main intersection near you to remain red light camera free -- the city is shuffling around their camera locations and will move 20 of the current 189 cameras elsewhere, as supposedly deemed necessary by which ones would "have the most positive effect on traffic safety."
City spokesperson Peter Scales told the Sun-Times that it's all a "cost-saving measure" and a reduction in "capital outlay." He also defended the moving of cameras from intersections where accidents had been reduced.
Wait, aren't the cameras directly responsible for the decrease in accidents? Maybe, maybe not. But it's certainly the line Chicago has always spouted for the reason for the spate of cameras. So it would seem they're OK, then, with accidents rising again at the intersections where the cameras are removed. Because certainly they're not just scouting for better intersections to catch people making minor infractions like rolling right turns on red and boosting the almost $50 million in red light ticket revenue at a time when the city is desperate for funds. That would just be crazy talk.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
I've never understood the bitching about these cameras. If you don't like tickets, don't run the light. Stop, count to three, THEN go (if turning, obv). It's not that difficult.
My post yesterday was swallowed in the ether, so I'll post again -- studies have repeatedly shown that red light cameras produce adverse effects on public safety. They're for revenue generation and little else.
I don't necessarily have a problem with these cameras. I enjoy watching the flashes when five or six jagoffs blatantly run the light at Hollywood and Sheridan. Serves them right.
What I DO have a problem with is hitting that "sweet spot" when you're approaching a light, other motorists on your ass, and it turns yellow. Right them you have to make an instant decision on whether to slam on the brakes or hit the gas. The reason? In Chicago traffic lights have only a 3 second yellow light duration according to the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications. Based on federal guidelines, the 3 second yellow light interval is the extreme minimum time a municipality can designate. Why do we only have a three-second yellow in Chicago? Simple: revenue generation.
Exactly,
With the ridiculously short yellow lights it's a complete racket. There absolutely is a 'sweet spot' that puts you in a dangerous situation no matter who carefully slow you're driving.
A longer light would help, though this could also be solved if Chicago drivers didn't think they had to drive in the trunk of the car in front of them.
I'm a passive-aggressive driver. People driving in my truck just makes me slow way down.
Nah,
If you come up at the right time it doesn't matter if cars are around you or not.
Granted it doesn't happen often, but as we were saying there *is* a sweet spot and you've pretty much gotta stop short or stomp on the gas.
I read about the dash for my cash but I also read about plans for extending the El in a loop around the city. Where is the common sense?