It doesn't matter to me if I'm doing 100 or 10, my gas milage blows either way... I might just as well get there faster
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Red-light Cameras Increase Crashes
- Thread starter HardOCP News
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It doesn't matter to me if I'm doing 100 or 10, my gas milage blows either way... I might just as well get there faster
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Ockie, you aren't alone on the billboard issue. I'm tired of seeing the same signs everytime I drive. Heck, some have been up so long they are faded. Being able to drive by the billboard and see a different one each day would actually be nice, IMO.
I don't see any problems with Davan's example of the sending state troopers out when you registration/inspection is overdue. It is your responsibility for owning a vehicle.
As for debt collectors, meh. You racked up the debt, you should be paying it. Usually the only reason for it being sent to a debt collector is because you weren't paying what you agreed to in the first place
I don't see any problems with Davan's example of the sending state troopers out when you registration/inspection is overdue. It is your responsibility for owning a vehicle.
As for debt collectors, meh. You racked up the debt, you should be paying it. Usually the only reason for it being sent to a debt collector is because you weren't paying what you agreed to in the first place
Funny my GTO idles in first gear at about 6-7 MPH. For most cars about 60 in top gear yeilds the best fuel mileage. Of course thats dependant on drag, gear ratio, tire pressure etc.
If you're driving a GTO at 6-7mph, then you've got problems
Well I do have to hit those speeds.....for about .0001 seconds.
If you're driving a GTO at 6-7mph, then you've got problems
Well I do have to hit those speeds.....for about .0001 seconds.
The only way to drive a GTO is to drive it like it's stolen
computerpro3
LightningRod
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Uh my car is in first gear at 35mph. Sorry, but driving 90 on the highway is 10x safer than driving the speed limit. I've SEEN people get into accidents because they were only driving the speed limit. The safest thing to do is to stay with the traffic, period.
Welcome to the "Michigan Turn Around" much nicer than those damn circles in Europe.
And No all the road signs in the US aren't this way....people are moving out of Detroit in droves, they are trying to make it hard to leave.
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Umm, the only reason that driving the speed limit would be more dangerous is because others (like you) are speeding the first place
If everyone is driving the same speed to stay with traffic it doesn't matter if it is 30 mph or 90 mph. So your attitude that driving over the speed limit is some how safer is completely illogical.Now you're discussing two different things - driving safely versus driving ecnomically. Which do you want to argue?
Yeah, so what, my Camaro will do 55 in first, and my Corvette will do 60 in first. That doesn't mean it has to.
Being that the camaro is automatic, if I don't lock it in first and just let it shift on it's own, and am reasonably gentle with the throttle, it downshifts into O.D. at 47 MPH.
In high gear, does your car turn less revs at 60MPH or 75+?
Now, as far as safe driving, I don't think anyone should be driving above the speed limit. That's breaking the law, whether you agree with it or not. The "everyone else is" mentality only works with little babies crying to their parents for the new toy. What if everyone else jumps off a bridge?
Being that people do though, I can see where it's a hazard if someone is doing the speed limit, and a bunch of idiots around him are not. However, it's not their responsibility to speed up - it's yours to slow down. Since well, you're breaking the law as-is.
Hahahaha, Nemesis999 must have not been introduced to our "Suicide lanes", "Michigan Turns", and our yields + our non-slip corners.
I hate traffic circles, people here have NO idea how to use them... I'd much rather run a red light than drive in those things around here... I'd have a much better chance coming out alive, lol
Hahahaha, Nemesis999 must have not been introduced to our "Suicide lanes", "Michigan Turns", and our yields + our non-slip corners.
I hate traffic circles, people here have NO idea how to use them... I'd much rather run a red light than drive in those things around here... I'd have a much better chance coming out alive, lol
Just to add to my post: The reason why we use suspended stop lights rather than pole mounted lights is due to the weather (we do get Tornadoes here) and is also due to the cost and flexibility.
I think they do around here due to cost mostly, and the weather 2nd. However, I never had an issue seeing any lights on them (ours are hung on the opposite end of the intersection)?
The only way to drive a GTO is to drive it like it's stolen
True but ever time I think about doing that there happens to be a cop there keeping me in check.
UrielDagda
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let me get this straight, these are causing accidents as people that normally would drive through a red light are now stoping suddenly.
That's not necessarily true. I would think that people who should probably be continuing through a red light that started changing when they were past the point of stopping at it already are more likely to be the ones affected by the desire to try to stop on a dime. People who are normally scofflaws aren't going to be as likely to care either way, while those that feel compelled to follow all the rules are more likely to get paranoid and slam on their brakes at said intersection to avoid the possibility of a ticket-- even if it's not the right decision.
In essence, this technology just makes it so people do their damndest to keep from getting a ticket, even if they jam on the brakes and cause a 4-car pile-up... This is just one of the many cases in this country where the cure is much worse than the disease.
UrielDagda
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Actually in my state you run into a catch 22 sometimes.. If everybody else is doing 80 on the highway and you are doing only 55 or 60, you have a chance of being pulled over for obstructing traffic. I have even seen minimum speed limits posted on long stretches.
The catch 22 comes in where you could also be doing 80 while everybody else is doing 80 and the cops decide to just pull you over for going too fast. It's enough to make you want to (try to) choke a state trooper.
TechLarry
RIP [H] Brother - June 1, 2022
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Oh, my friend. You have not experienced the mixing bowl in Northern Virginia
The last time I went through there, my GPS put up a message that said "Phuck it! You're on your own!"
The last time I went through there, my GPS put up a message that said "Phuck it! You're on your own!"
Cameras don't increase crashes, incompetent drivers increase crashes.
DRIVERS slam on the breaks upon noticing the cameras. It's their damn fault for not slowing down gradually ahead of time, as they were taught in driving schools...and as they're supposed to do in order to get their driver's licence. It's not the camera's fault they're terrible drivers. Good drivers will always slow down if they see the yellow light and if they know that if they maintain their current speed, they'll cross on a red light.
Stupid drivers will accelerate. This is very, very, very basic driving knowledge. If you floor it when you see a yellow light during your driving test, you'll automatically fail...so why don't more drivers follow simple rules when driving? They deserve every ticket they get and blaming the cameras for it is just pathetic.
DRIVERS slam on the breaks upon noticing the cameras. It's their damn fault for not slowing down gradually ahead of time, as they were taught in driving schools...and as they're supposed to do in order to get their driver's licence. It's not the camera's fault they're terrible drivers. Good drivers will always slow down if they see the yellow light and if they know that if they maintain their current speed, they'll cross on a red light.
Stupid drivers will accelerate. This is very, very, very basic driving knowledge. If you floor it when you see a yellow light during your driving test, you'll automatically fail...so why don't more drivers follow simple rules when driving? They deserve every ticket they get and blaming the cameras for it is just pathetic.
I think they should take them down also. I live in College Station, TX and they just put up red light cameras a month or so ago. Supposedly they did it to decrease the number of accidents but they didn't put them on any of the top four intersections with the greatest number of accidents or fatalities. Some people think they are specifically targeting students with their placement, but I don't know if I would go so far as to say that. There is no telling how many times I have seen the cameras take pictures for no reason. I have had them take pictures of me turning left when the left arrow light turned green on multiple occasions. I find myself slamming on the brakes now when the light turns yellow because I don't if I will absolutely make it past the light before it turns red. Don't get me wrong, I hate people who drive through red lights ten minutes after it changed, I had sworn I would just t-bone the person next time it happened. I am not the type of person that races from stoplight to stoplight, if I see a light turn yellow way up in front of me, then I will just coast as much as I can.
Blazestorm
Supreme [H]ardness
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Mazda3
1st 0-40
2nd 0-70
3rd 15-90
4th 20-118 (Governor)
Those are all hitting the rev limiter (Except 4th)
I see 30mpg if I go 60-80... doesn't seem to matter what speed I go... I've gone slower and gone faster and I always end up with roughly 30mpg... these are like 200+ mile trips...
Washington seems to have fairly competent drivers... some people I wanna punch in the face because they're not even going the speed limit... but for the most part, people are decent drivers... no red-light cameras in my city... couple stop-lights are messed up... like at 3am they randomly change when there's no cars within a mile... There's this one strip that has 4 lights in a row, maybe 800ft between them... probably less... and the moment a car from the other direction pulls up, it changes... so you can literally be going the speed limit, and have to stop/go through every light just because they're not timed in any sense, and they change fast, too fast for 35mph, if there are cars coming from the other directions I'll usually coast at 20mph and not have to stop...
Meh!
1st 0-40
2nd 0-70
3rd 15-90
4th 20-118 (Governor)
Those are all hitting the rev limiter (Except 4th)
I see 30mpg if I go 60-80... doesn't seem to matter what speed I go... I've gone slower and gone faster and I always end up with roughly 30mpg... these are like 200+ mile trips...
Washington seems to have fairly competent drivers... some people I wanna punch in the face because they're not even going the speed limit... but for the most part, people are decent drivers... no red-light cameras in my city... couple stop-lights are messed up... like at 3am they randomly change when there's no cars within a mile... There's this one strip that has 4 lights in a row, maybe 800ft between them... probably less... and the moment a car from the other direction pulls up, it changes... so you can literally be going the speed limit, and have to stop/go through every light just because they're not timed in any sense, and they change fast, too fast for 35mph, if there are cars coming from the other directions I'll usually coast at 20mph and not have to stop...
Meh!
Rabid Badger
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This statement makes no sense. People aren't going to hit the brakes if they can't stop before entering the intersection, they'd get a ticket anyway.
Here's how most accidents at camera-monitored play out: A person that goes through the intersection frequently and is aware the camera is there is near the intersection when the light turns yellow. They slam on the brakes to avoid a ticket and get rear-ended by the person behind them.
The fact that the length of a yellow light is often shortened (despite the fact that shorter yellows are shown to cause an increase in accidents) when the cameras are installed is proof that they are nothing more than a revenue scheme.
I don't suppose you could provide proof of that, could you?
The lights aren't calibrated that way, so your point is moot. Also, how are you going to tell the difference between someone spiking their brakes because they're traveling too fast and someone that does it because they're 20 feet from the intersection and know the yellow will only last 4 seconds? Try to think these things through.
Wrong. Almost all cars achieve maximum fuel economy between 55 and 65 mph. Beyond that the increased wind resistance causes fuel consumption to increase.
It's a wonderful thing when a government is actually concerned with their citizens safety rather than how much money they can squeeze out of them.
Accidents don't occur because people hit the gas at a yellow light, they occur because they immediately slam on the brakes and get rear-ended. Did you even bother to read the article?
Bottom line: When red light cameras are installed, accidents go up. Thus, installing red light cameras is an irresponsible act based on greed rather than a desire to increase public safety.
That's not going to do anything, people will still know they are there.
Instead, why not stop trying to find ways to fleece the public?
Redlight cameras are 100% percent bullshit. The make intersections more dangerous, cost people a ton of money, and they aren't even operated by the government. A company installs and maintains them in exchange for half of every fine collected. On top of that, the company recommends that yellow lights be shortened (often to less than the minimum safe interval) in order to boost the number of fines.
Public safety my ass.
QFT!!! & 2nded.
LOCAL FACT: all the lights in the nearest municipality that are camera equipped,
are in fact, timed to 3 second yellows (regardless of time of day/traffic volume) VS. all *non-camera* lights (again, within the same municipality) being timed to 6 second yellows.
It still boils down to the city's approval though. Without that, there's no cameras.
I disagree. When drivers are conditioned that there has historically been a finite time length for a yellow, but then camera's go up, and suddenly the time length for a yellow has changed... What other conclusion CAN you draw????
If you've been driving the same path for years, and there's no historic proof (read as: accidents) to back up the need for such measures, then there is no justification. Other than being another measure to help fill your local governments coffers.
Agreed.
If the moron behind the person applying their brakes wasn't tail-gating to start with....
(again, still goes to show the person putting their brakes on IS NOT in the wrong) =p
Challenge (if you can handle it) for ya:
Drop your speed to 60 -or God forbid 55, for one full tank of gas, THEN come back and make that claim. I *guarentee* you won't be able to.
That 5mph drop (from 65-60) makes a 50 mile per tank difference, on my v6.
(Gear ratio only plays so much of a part...)
-Unless, of course you're one of the people that tries to do the posted speed limit (or higher) from light to light in the distance of an average city block. ROFL
2nded. I've seen that locally as well and forgot to mention it. TY
And to me, that's the ideal implementation. Nice to hear at least *1* city has it's shit together, and seems to care about it's citizens!!
With some red lights, the transition from green-yellow-red happens more quickly that on other intersections.
I got the flash from one of these cameras just a week or two ago because of fast-red light. I would have had to stood on my brakes to stop in time. I knock on wood hoping a ticket doesn't come in my mail.
I got the flash from one of these cameras just a week or two ago because of fast-red light. I would have had to stood on my brakes to stop in time. I knock on wood hoping a ticket doesn't come in my mail.
Oh, my friend. You have not experienced the mixing bowl in Northern Virginia
The last time I went through there, my GPS put up a message that said "Phuck it! You're on your own!"
FOCL!!!!!!
You just turned me into a human "see & spray" man
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Yeah, everyon wants to blame the guy slamming his brakes or the light change. No one ever wants to blame the guy who is riding the tail of the car in front of them. Whatever happened to "1 car length for every 10 mph"? I remember that rule from my driver's ed in the early nineties. Heck, most places I drive, including the freeway there is rarely more than 1 car length between vehicles even at 70 mph
Everyone is too concerned with making sure there isn't any room for someone else to merge into their lane in front of them They put up a red light camera near my house a couple years ago. At the same time they also reduced the yellow time. I drive through this light at least 5 times a week so I had the timing down pat, but once the camera went up they made it more dangerous by quickly going from green to red. I got a ticket the second time I went through the light with the camera. I pretty much drive the speed limit in the city. To save money they move the cameras around. You can tell when a particular stop light has a camera in the pole by the timing of the light.
So my experience says, red light cameras are not good and by reading that article at ScienceDaily they have come to the same conclusion.
So my experience says, red light cameras are not good and by reading that article at ScienceDaily they have come to the same conclusion.
See my post above. I consider myself to be a safe and courteous driver. I try not to run yellows without slamming on my brakes, pretty much do the speed limit in the city and I got a ticket because the time the yellow light was on was greatly reduced. I don't mind taking the blame if I do something wrong, but in this case I blame the reduced green to red time when the camera was installed.
I have no intention of supporting red light cameras or any other form of draconian law enforcement. The roads may be congested, but they operate fine. I feel more at risk dealing with the random reactions of people around the cameras than I do with the occasional asshole. They will eventually get their ticket at the hands of a real traffic cop.
This system is fine. The political-induced frenzy over road safety is largely BS. Life is somewhat dangerous. Getting into a motor vehicle is somewhat dangerous. Getting out of bed in the morning is also risky. Enough. I don't need or want nanny state protecting me from every little thing. That's the little thing we like to call FREEDOM!
Let's start by getting all the illegals off the roads who can't or do not read road signs or never even took drivers tests. I bet by that act alone vehicle injuries and fatalities would reduce by a high enough percentage that any potential benefit of red light cameras would be eliminated.
Oh, wait, it's not popular to say things like that is it?
We have enough serious issues on our plate. Can't our lawmakers find something better to do?
This system is fine. The political-induced frenzy over road safety is largely BS. Life is somewhat dangerous. Getting into a motor vehicle is somewhat dangerous. Getting out of bed in the morning is also risky. Enough. I don't need or want nanny state protecting me from every little thing. That's the little thing we like to call FREEDOM!
Let's start by getting all the illegals off the roads who can't or do not read road signs or never even took drivers tests. I bet by that act alone vehicle injuries and fatalities would reduce by a high enough percentage that any potential benefit of red light cameras would be eliminated.
Oh, wait, it's not popular to say things like that is it?
We have enough serious issues on our plate. Can't our lawmakers find something better to do?
Actually, driving 90mph would make a 90 mile trip take 1 hour rather than 1.5 hours... a savings of 30 minutes! When I take road trips it's more than worth it.
larryBird44
Supreme [H]ardness
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Yea but those 2 minute allow you to catch the next green light and before you know it, you're 15 minutes ahead of schedule. They call it the freeway for a reason! Ok maybe not
Police don't have an issue with 5-10mph over the limit, at least here in West Palm Beach, FL. Me an him/her go 56-59 in a 50 with no issue. The only time you really need to obey the limit is in a school zone or residential neighborhood. The rest of the time the speed limit only causes more congestion imo. Until they either broaden the roads or reduce the number of cars, you need to increase the speed limit to make up for more drivers.
ya like any city would do something smart like that. do you the people that run our gov.? only if it benifits them will they do anything about it.
Every time people don't use spellcheckers, a kitten is killed.
Yea but those 2 minute allow you to catch the next green light and before you know it, you're 15 minutes ahead of schedule. They call it the freeway for a reason! Ok maybe not
Police don't have an issue with 5-10mph over the limit, at least here in West Palm Beach, FL. Me an him/her go 56-59 in a 50 with no issue. The only time you really need to obey the limit is in a school zone or residential neighborhood. The rest of the time the speed limit only causes more congestion imo. Until they either broaden the roads or reduce the number of cars, you need to increase the speed limit to make up for more drivers.
56 - 59?!! damn, I'd rather walk
Cops don't pull you here unless if you are at excess of 80.Sweet, I didn't know spellcheckers filled in missing words, corrected grammar and fixed sentence structures.
illgiveumorality
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Are there red light cameras in New York?
I don't get the point. If you truly run a red, you pay the price with your car, insurance and health. There is a pause between the red/green lights in the perpendicular traffic for a reason. These cameras are known to fine you even when you are legally within the intersection.
I don't get the point. If you truly run a red, you pay the price with your car, insurance and health. There is a pause between the red/green lights in the perpendicular traffic for a reason. These cameras are known to fine you even when you are legally within the intersection.