[Villages PL]

Today I was driving on a connector street (don't remember the name of it) between Par Drive and 466. I had just come off of Par heading to 466. This is where Walgreens is located. So I see the traffic light is green for me and I think to myself, "good I won't have to stop." Then I noticed a car going East on 466 go right through at full speed. The light for him was red. I couldn't believe my eyes at first. There was one car stopped at the light in the left lane. Wouldn't that give him a clue that the light was red?

I made a right turn and saw that he did stop for the next light. To my surprise it was a guy who looked to be about 45 years old. Okay, if it wasn't dementia, what was his excuse?

If I had been at the point of turning onto 466 or going straight through, I wonder if he would have hit me. Who knows? If he had taken his eyes off the road, he might have.

[ijusluvit]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

Today I was driving on a connector street (don't remember the name of it) between Par Drive and 466. I had just come off of Par heading to 466. This is where Walgreens is located. So I see the traffic light is green for me and I think to myself, "good I won't have to stop." Then I noticed a car going East on 466 go right through at full speed. The light for him was red. I couldn't believe my eyes at first. There was one car stopped at the light in the left lane. Wouldn't that give him a clue that the light was red?

I made a right turn and saw that he did stop for the next light. To my surprise it was a guy who looked to be about 45 years old. Okay, so if it wasn't dementia, what was it?

If I had been at the point of turning on to 466 or going straight through, I wonder if he would have hit me. Who knows? If he had taken his eyes off the road, he might have.

So, may I ask, do you favor traffic enforcement which includes signal light cameras?

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

So, may I ask, do you favor traffic enforcement which includes signal light cameras?

Many cities have stopped using signal light cameras because they are not cost effective but I don't think cost is the point. It is NOT acceptable to choose which traffic laws you obey. If you don't stop; you get a ticket. Failing to stop is very dangerous to innocent victims

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by ijusluvit

so, may i ask, do you favor traffic enforcement which includes signal light cameras?

absolutely!

[Ripcord13]

As I tell my wife, if you choose to drive on public roads you are going to have to deal with A**holes behind the wheel, be it NYC, Boston or The Villages. Drive defensively and practice situation awareness.

Rip

[thistrucksforyou]

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker

absolutely!

Once again someone thinks it is perfectly fine to give up more of your rights...If you don't understand then maybe you should think about it....

[gmcneill]

With respect to Perrjojo's position, I add the clarification that cost-effectiveness is not the main reason (I would agree that it is a reason) why some cities and counties are discontinuing the use of red light cameras. Reasons include: elected officials buckling under to their residents' (read: voters') complaints about the "big brother watching" form of enforcement;

administrators taking a conservative, risk-based approach of suspending the use of red lights until the litigation regarding the legality the red light camera program is resolved (there are numerous lawyers throughout in Florida and other states who have raised a variety of challenges); My observation: use of cameras at toll booths along Florida Turnpike and other toll roads is permitted, different with red cameras?); and

staffing shortages that preclude operating the program efficiently and effectively.

The South Florida agency from which I recently retired began utilizing red light cameras last year, at just one intersection. If I recall correctly, the agency expects to gross in excess of $200K by the end of the fiscal year.

Maintaining the effectiveness of the program is time- and labor-intensive, with the majority of the efforts occurring behind-the-scenes. Every potential violation is reviewed to ensure that people are not wrongly cited, and because many people challenge the violation with the hope that the agency will drop the matter, there are a considerable amount time spent preparing for and appearing before a judge in court.

Consequently, the program requires nearly full-time attention by two staff members, and part-time attention from two more staff members.

I do not know how much revenue the program will net the agency but revenue was not the main reason for implementing the program; saving lives and protecting property was. In fact, the agency was willing to absorb some costs to deliver that component of safety to the public; the extra revenue is a collateral benefit.

As for me, I agree with Indy: Absolutely! Although I am a responsible driver, I welcome all of the protection against drivers described by Villages PL that can be provided.

With respect to thistrucksforyou, driving is not a right, it is a privilege. Often times others abuse that privilege in a manner that puts the lives of my family and me at serious risk. The overt use of high-profile monitoring equipment that is conspicuously visible in a public place for the specific purpose of ensuring motor vehicle safe operation or other matters of public safety is appropriate. It is the electronic equivalent of assigning a law enforcement officer at the site.

[Golfingnut]

Red light camera's only ticket law breakers, so I am not clear on why that would be giving up a right, unless you are giving up your right to break the law of running the red light. Lets try everything we can to support laws and stop the lawbreakers. If you do nothing wrong, Big Brother will tire of watching you and focus on the law breaker. Remember, Big Brother catches child molesters on the internet. We need all the Big Brothers doing that we can get.

[johnfarr]

I was driving my Model T Ford eastbound yesterday and saw the same thing happen at that intersection. I was behind that car. In my case it was a newer gray Honda Civic. I winced when he didn't even brake at the intersection. Fortunately the car by Walgreens waited before entering the intersection.

I hate to say it but he may have been distracted by my car. It is no excuse for his carelessness, but I see people doing crazy things, like taking pictures of the old car while driving theirs. I almost hate to take her out anymore.

[jblum315]

I sailed through a red light once by accident (sheer inattention). No one was coming either way. When I realized what I had done I was so shocked that I had to pull over and wait to recover my equilibrium

[Figmo Bohica]

Originally Posted by thistrucksforyou

Once again someone thinks it is perfectly fine to give up more of your rights...If you don't understand then maybe you should think about it....

Driving is a privilege not a right. So what right are you giving up? The states should be able to enforce any law concerning a privilege that they want, same as they should not be able to make any law that would take way a right. Big difference.

[2BNTV]

Originally Posted by Ripcord13

As I tell my wife, if you choose to drive on public roads you are going to have to deal with A**holes behind the wheel, be it NYC, Boston or The Villages. Drive defensively and practice situation awareness.

Rip

[JoeC1947]

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker

absolutely!

Why not stop sign cameras too! Where will it end, or is this just the beginning?

Soon big brother will be watching everything we do.

[graciegirl]

I was just thinking that surveilance cameras that business's have installed and even homeowners have installed have really made it tough to get away with crime. It really has improved catching the bad guys in the last few years.

I personally think it is a good thing. We can see who is doing something wrong. If you aren't doing anything wrong, there is no need to worry.

Running a red light is wrong and dangerous to the red light runner and all law abiding citizens.

I understand your political views but not if it interferes with a really good safety concept.

I think that red light cameras are a good thing. How could they be a bad thing. What are people doing on an open street that shouldn't be recorded?

[2BNTV]

A police officer once informed me that a yellow light means to stop, not speed up to get through the intersection.

Just sayin......................