Radar Cameras

[BB_TX]

I work in the northern suburbs of Dallas but live 30+ miles away in the country. Due to massive growth, what used to be a nice country drive each way 31 years ago is now a traffic nightmare. 4 more years and I plan to retire and move another 30 miles out and spend more time with my tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif In the meantime, I hate to think someone in my family, or anyone else for that matter, may be injured or killed because someone could not waste a minute waiting for a traffic light. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[Egon]

You be tryin to get me in trouble Gary. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon

 

[mwechtal]

One interesting thing that I've read about the redlight cameras. It seems that in many places they've shortened the time the yellow light is on. This is what causes the drivers to slam on their brakes when the yellow comes on. I guess these things wouldn't be so bad if they were used properly, but someone always has to find a way to make money. To me, it seems that whoever ordered the shortening of the yellow time should be jailed. That is as dangerous as running a light in my opinion. There IS a federal standard for the yellow light time.

Mike

 

[mundamanu]

If I remember my lessons from driver's ed correctly, the duration of the yellow light is (was?) determined by the posted speed limit. The faster the speed limit, the longer the yellow light, which makes sense, of course.

 

[fivestring]

It's based on the size of the intersection, speed limit, layout (hill, curve, etc.) and number of lanes.

 

[mundamanu]

<font color="blue"> It's based on the size of the intersection, speed limit, layout (hill, curve, etc.) and number of lanes. </font>

Which makes more sense, of course. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[txdon]

"Which makes more sense..."

Yes there is a Federal guideline.
Yellow is on from 3 to 6 seconds.
(see formula)
No the states do not have to follow it.

Which makes no sense.

 

[GerardC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Yellow is on from 3 to 6 seconds.)</font>

So that means you may have time to FLOOR IT! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[fivestring]

Ain't that the truth.
Yellow means," Get out of the way, I'm coming through!". /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I actually had a couple of people tell me they know red is stop; green is go; but they don't know what yellow is for! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Big_A]

My day job is working for a small Virginia city as a traffic signal electrician. The MUTCD, which is the federal standard in traffic control, is adopted by the local juristictions. It is not mandatory, however, the "brains" of signalized intersections will not allow the locality to set the min yellow time to less then 3 seconds.

Red light cameras often work on speed sensors that are set a certian distance from the intersection. They calculate your speed versus the min yellow time. If this number crosses a certian threshold, the camera will start taking pictures.

My City has not yet gotten these cameras but we do use cameras for vehicle detection. It's funny listening to people around here talk about the cameras as a "big brother" type thing when all they are there for is to serve the phase they detect.

One thing we are doing to help stop red light running is to put in an all red time. Meaning that all the lights will hold red for a preset amount of time before allowing the next phase to go green. We have also INCREASED our yellow times to help.

It all comes back to personal responsibility, if you don't have it, then the government will do it for you.

 

[r0GuE]

I heard a story where they were setting this crap up on tripods in Germany, and it didn't work out because if the person saw one and knew he was caught, he'd swipe the whole rig!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[BB_TX]

<font color="blue"> help stop red light running is to put in an all red time </font>
I can see where that could help reduce red light running accidents, but not red light running itself. Funny thing about that is, as soon as the red light runners figure it out, they know they can run the red lights with less chance of an accident and would probably be more likely to do it.

 

[daedong]

I am very surprised by no comments to my post above and the news paper article i posted.
I think this technology will spread through out the world.

 

[txdon]

<font color="blue">I think this technology will spread through out the world. </font>

Daedong, not so fast. The Houston Texas City Attorney said today (5-5-04) that the new proposed red light Camera's cannot be used in Houston because of State Law requiring a Peace Officer to identify the person accused of a criminal act. He researched a Case in Dickinson Texas in which tickets given by using radar cameras could not be prosecuted because the drivers were not identified by a Peace Officer. HA! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[daedong]

I don't understand US law, so would this be the same for other states.
Here in oz we have had red light and speed camera's for many years. the new noise detection i was actually referring to.