http://www.ydr.com/opinion/ci_19214792

YDR Opinion: No red light cameras
Updated: 10/28/2011 01:33:07 PM EDT
 

 
The state Senate recently approved a bill that would allow York to install red light cameras. (Submitted)

Our state Legislature is barreling down the road toward allowing red light cameras in

Pennsylvania cities - including York. The bill has passed the Senate and now heads to the House.

 
Why? 
 

Safety, of course. 
 

Running red lights is dangerous - to the light runner and to innocent drivers who have a green light.
 

Obviously, this traffic law is important and ought to be enforced.
 

But these red light cameras seem more aimed at revenue generation than public safety. If our government leaders are truly concerned about public safety, how can they allow cellphone use (particularly texting) while driving and helmetless motorcycling riding but want to put a robo cop at every intersection to zap motorists who misjudge a light cycle by a second or two?
 

That's the problem with automated enforcement methods such as this. They're completely inflexible and unforgiving of mitigating circumstances. 
 

Here's just one example of a problem that might arise in York if such a camera were installed at the intersection of Roosevelt Avenue and Route 30: Northbound traffic on Roosevelt crossing 30 often gets "stuck" in the intersection after the light turns red because of traffic slowly turning into a shopping center just north of the intersection. Drivers might enter the intersection reasonably expecting to make it through before the light turns, only to get stopped by the shopping center traffic.
 

Does that driver really deserve a ticket - $100 under the Senate bill, to be split evenly by the state and the city?
 

No, of course not. And maybe the driver could get out of it by challenging such a ticket in court. But who has the time to deal with such needless hassles?
 

Granted, that particular intersection can be dangerous - it was the site of a horrific accident several years ago that killed community leader Michael Euculano. But that death was caused by distracted driving (Cell phone! Still legal to use while driving in Pennsylvania!), and it seems doubtful a red light camera would have prevented it.
 

State Sen. Pat Vance, R-parts of northwestern York County, has said she voted against the bill in committee because she - and her constituents - think the main motivation is revenue, not safety.
 

Indeed, many critics of red light cameras have put forth similar complaints - and they've argued that the cameras do not increase safety.
 

Some studies suggest they lead to more rear-end collisions at intersections as motorists come to short stops.
 

Some experts argue a better way to increase traffic safety is to lengthen yellow-light cycles, giving traffic more time to clear an intersection before a red signal.
 

In the end, lawmakers' safety arguments would be a lot more believable if they first plugged some of the most obvious public safety holes in state law: Cellphones and helmets.
 

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