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Chicago's Red Light Cameras Now a Point of Contention for Mayoral Candidates

Posted by timothy on from the man-vs-the-state's-electronic-proxy dept.

The same system of red-light cameras in Chicago that was shown last year to have been generating bogus tickets is still around -- but now, reports Reuters, it's a political punching bag for opponents of Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel in an upcoming election. "[Emanuel], who supports the nation's largest automated camera system, is polling slightly under the 50 percent plus one vote he needs to avoid a run-off against the second-highest vote-getter. Three of the four challengers seeking to topple Emanuel say the cameras should go. Emanuel's closest rival, Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, who is polling at about 20 percent, said he would only keep cameras that have been proven to reduce accidents. .... Chicago has red-light cameras at 174 intersections and 144 speed cameras near schools and parks around the city. They have brought in $500 million since 2003, according to media reports, a figure Chicago has neither confirmed nor disputed.

4 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. its all about the $$$ by ganjadude · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Its been proven time and time again that red light cameras do more harm than good. how can anyone still support such bad use of tech???

    They have brought in $500 million since 2003, according to media reports,

    Ahhhh, its all so clear now.....

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    have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    1. Re:its all about the $$$ by newcastlejon · · Score: 4, Insightful

      To further improve the safety of red-light cameras, consider that almost all rear-end collisions are caused by people tailgating. If each red-light camera were turned into a combination red-light and speed camera, people would slow down when approaching intersections, so someone slamming on their brakes at the last minute would be less likely to be hit from behind.

      Emphasis mine.

      I don't think you were saying that rear-end collisions are the fault of the car in front, even when they brake suddenly, but I think it's important to say that any rear-end collision is the fault of the car behind. It doesn't matter how sharply the car in front brakes, you should never be so close that you can't also stop safely. Suppose that instead of a red light there's a child running into the road; the car ahead may brake very sharply indeed, but if you're behind and you give them another push you might just make the difference between near-miss and tragedy. Tailgating needs to be treat more severely than speeding if you ask me, or at least enforced... at all.

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    2. Re:its all about the $$$ by thegarbz · · Score: 3, Insightful

      my solution is stronger penalties for those who cause accidents at red lights. not a slap on the wrist and a fine but a real penalty

      You're applying a punishment after the fact. That never works. People are behavioral monsters who have a horrendous ability to think ahead and predict consequences for their actions. You could apply the death penalty for having an accident and you still won't stop accidents as people have an ever increasing view of their abilities and believe they get better and better at not getting caught. .... Until an accident.

      This has been proven not just for driving but for all manner of human behavior. People build up their behaviors as they get more and more confident in their abilities, be it asking people out on a date, running a drug lab, or driving faster and closer to the person in front of them (funny story is that surveys show time and time again that 90% of drivers on the road believe they are better than average).

      The solution needs to come in the form of behavioral change, and the only way to do that is change behaviors before they lead to an accident. Hence a lot of countries have this insane focus on "safe driving", speeding, tailgating and running red lights. We have behavioral cameras in my country. They look for tailgaters, people on their phones, and police can leverage fines based on video evidence (submitted a video to police of some idiot tailgating then overtaking on an unbroken line on a dangerous mountain road which cost the person his license as he was a repeat offender).

      I don't want to be on the receiving end of the incident, do you?

  2. Re:Selling Chicago one chunk at a time... by 0123456 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is how it is across USA politics.

    You seem to believe it's somehow different in other countries.