That video had me floored.

I always look and let the other car next to me go first if it's blocking my view. Additionally, no shifting immediately before or during the intersection. I'm willing to damage my car in an oh **** scenario like that, but I'm not willing to lose my life or my enjoyment of life due to someone else's stupidity.

 

I also read that like 60% of the revenue generated goes to the companies that maintain the camera. I think last year Texas made like 5.5 mil on these tickets but 3 mil went to the companies. I could have read wrong though.

 

That sure doesn't sound like a great contract that the city signed on to, but is that a reason to not have them?

You can bet the cops would not have stepped it up and caught the speeders that accounted for even the 2.3 million that went to the government.



mxt_77, I remember reading about that as well. If they're shortening the length of yellow lights then that's an execution issue, as opposed to an issue with the red light cameras themselves.

I want everyone running red lights to be fined or caught if they cause an accident.

 

I've read a lot about that too, and I've noticed in my city that the yellows were incredibly short at some of the camera-enforced intersections. Interestingly enough, after the big uproar we had in the papers last year, some of the yellows now seem longer.

With the way most drivers treat the yellow, I wish we had a flashing green before yellow, tighter enforcement on yellow, and zero tolerance on red. Nothing worse than wondering if the car behind you is going to hit you because they must find a way through the light despite being so far back. But I could use a bumper respray...

 

I'd go further and say I'd like everyone that ran red lights, regardless of whether they cause an accident, to be fined. With all the BS tickets that get issued to raise revenue, I don't think it's too out of line.

 

It's amazing how retards are driving on the streets. The thing is, not only do you always have to be careful yourself, you have to be paying attention because another person's mistake can potentially kill you.

 

I guess I was unclear, I meant fine everyone, AND catch them and hold them responsible if an accident occurs as the result of their actions.

 

this.

It's a combination of people not paying attention and assuming they're the only ones on the road who matter. I also make it a habit to check my mirror when i'm coming to a stop, just because nowadays people either aren't paying attention or expect you to run red/yellow lights and stop signs.

We've gone from a society where driving was a privilege and we were lucky to have a car to one where driving is a right and a necessary evil that robs us of our O-so-precious time.

I don't get as frustrated in any other area during my day as i do when i'm on the road. People that don't signal, people that don't check their mirrors, people that cruise in the left lane when they aren't passing....

/rant.


back on topic...yes, i check traffic all directions before proceeding through an intersection. Can't trust other people to follow traffic rules.

 

i thought it was a lot more than that that the companies get to keep

one of the reasons i've heard against having them, besides that you have a private company taxing the population for disobeying state laws, is that they cause people to freak out and slam on their brakes, and could cause more accidents

the red light cameras (at least in texas) aren't anything by the government, they are established by a private company, who then gives a presentation to the govt in charge to get permission to install them and collect money from people that their "systems" catch

 

lol @ 2:28 when kid loses balloon.