http://www.wdtn.com/dpp/news/local/springfield/Longer-yellow-light-means-less-tickets

Longer yellow light means less tickets
Springfield added one extra second to yellow light
Updated: Wednesday, 16 Jun 2010, 6:55 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 16 Jun 2010, 5:55 PM EDT

Sonu Wasu & Don Hatcher
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) - A split second was helping drivers save money in Springfield.

The city added one extra second to all of the yellow lights at the red-light camera intersections.

Police said they saw a drastic drop in the number of red light camera citations after adding the second.

In 2006 an average of about 1,700 red light camera tickets were issued per month..

Now that monthly average has dropped to 667 tickets for drivers who ran red lights. Police said they saw their biggest drop after adding one extra second to the yellow light.

"We've set them all at 4.6 seconds except for Spring and North. That's set at five seconds because of the grade at the bottom of the hill," said Springfield Police Sgt. Brian Radanovich.

Even though it was less revenue for the city, police said they were glad driver behavior was changing.

Even drivers who hated the red light cameras admitted they now slow down when they see the light turn yellow.

"I make sure I stop, or make sure it just now turned yellow when I go through. The camera is doing it's job, but I still don't like it," said Springfield resident Kymber Sharp, who had been issued two citations for running red lights in the last year.

Police said they had also seen a 30% drop in traffic accidents since they installed the red light cameras at select intersections.

(Ban the cams note:  wonder what the police are NOT telling us???????  Oh like Chicago lately????  The drop was really at intersesctions WITHOUT CAMERAS!  RLC sites accidents went UP!  http://theexpiredmeter.com/?p=5972  )

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