Blake Smolensky

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1. Blake Smolensky wrote 2 years ago

   Dear Ed Brill,

   The facts are clear regarding red light cameras. All across the country, townships and municipalities have seen drastic declines in fatal crashes at intersections that are monitored by red light cameras. These cameras are put in place to keep the average commuter safe in their own vehicle without worrying if someone is going to decide whether to proceed through the intersection or stop from high speed. Its people with this mentality, that it is sometimes okay to run a red light, who make the streets unsafe. The rules of the road clearly state that red means stop. Any person who has been through the most basic drivers education course understands this.

   When keeping the public safe from reckless drivers, there are no limitations in my eyes as to what measures are to be taken in order to save even one human life. The argument that it is okay to run a red light if you are driving too fast to stop yourself in time on the 50 mph highway is absolutely ludicrous! Leave 5 minutes earlier for your commute, or slow down when you seen a red (or yellow, for that matter) light ahead, and you wont have to worry about speeding through one of the most dangerous intersections in Highland Park. It doesnt matter if youre late to work if youre dead.

   It is exactly because it is a six-lane highway that you need to stop drivers from running red lights to save the lives of others. Furthermore, according to the website truthaboutcars.com, Schaumburg doesnt actually show any increase in collisions due to the addition of red-light cameras:

   In 2008, the intersection had seen twenty-six accidents, none of which were related to signal violations or red light running. With the camera active in the first six months of 2009, there were twelve accidents, at least two of which were rear end collisions in the right-turn lane and one that may have involved red light running. Overall, only 1.9 percent of accidents in Schaumburg last year were in any way related to intersection traffic signals.

   Analysis indicates that there has been no significant change in signal-related crashes between pre and post system deployment, Police Chief Brian Howerton concluded.

   Its not the actual results of crashes we are looking at here; its the statistic nobody sees: crashes that have been avoided. You dont see statistics of how much safer people are driving because theyre aware of the new camera installations. The fact of the matter is, red light cameras save lives. I would rather get in a rear-end fender bender than be T-boned in the middle of an intersection by some reckless driver who disregards the rules of the road. Thats just my opinion which happens to also be backed by factual statistics:

   According to data provided by Kingsport (Tenn.) police, 2008 saw 317 fewer crashes with injuries within the city than 2007. There were three or fewer T-bone crashes at seven of the intersections outfitted with red light cameras.

   There were no T-bone crashes in 2008 at the intersection of Stone Drive at Eastman Road, which saw three such wrecks in 2007.

   Please rethink your stance on a lifesaving technology

   -outraged and baffled

   Posted to BRILLIANT FLASHES: The wrong kind of flashes at US41 and Park Avenue West - Highland Park & Highwood