Top traffic cameras bring in $1 million PER WEEK

[Anonymous]

Studies show speed bumps are more effective than traffic cameras. DC government prefers traffic cameras because they are money-grabbing.

"In terms of the percentage accident reduction, however, engineering schemes incorporating vertical deflections (such as speed humps or cushions) offer the largest benefits: at 44%, the average reduction in personal injury accidents attributable to such schemes, is twice that at sites where safety cameras were used to control speeds (22%) and they were the only type of scheme to have a significant impact on fatal and serious accidents."

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7854768_Are_speed_enforcement_cameras_more_effective_than_other_speed_management_measures_The_impact_of_speed_management_schemes_on_30_mph_roads

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's counter-intuitive, but traffic cameras make streets less safe because:

1. Now, no one is policing drunk and stoned drivers

2. Dangerous drivers will just avoid the streets that have traffic cameras (and they know that no traffic camera = no traffic enforcement). They can do whatever they want on streets that don't have cameras (which is most of them).

Actually, I always felt they made the streets less safe because my automatic reflex when I see one is to tap the brakes and check my speedometer. If someone is tailgating me, a sudden, unexpected brake could result in an accident. Similarly, there may be other things happening on the street that need more attention than my speedometer.

I always felt that posting the signs that display your speed would be safer than just installing cameras, because they keep your eyes on the road and let you know if you need to reduce your speed. I also like the speed bump recommendation from another PP.

[Anonymous]

I speed a lot and have never gotten a camera ticket. I just pay attention to the signs which tell you that cameras are ahead, learn the locations, and make sure to go no more than 10 mph above in DC and 12 mph in MD. The cameras are really targeted at stupid people who don't pay attention, but people like me just know how to speed in a way to avoid getting a ticket. It's honestly not that difficult but, when I drive, I am very focused as opposed to multitasking or texting or gabbing on my phone or doing any of the other idiotic things that people do while driving.

[Anonymous]

I got a traffic camera ticket once. I never drove on that street again. Problem solved! Once you know where they are, they're easy to avoid. Just drive on a different street.

[Anonymous]

the stop sign cameras are absurd. if you dont stop long enough to eat a sandwich, they will ticket you.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's counter-intuitive, but traffic cameras make streets less safe because:

1. Now, no one is policing drunk and stoned drivers

2. Dangerous drivers will just avoid the streets that have traffic cameras (and they know that no traffic camera = no traffic enforcement). They can do whatever they want on streets that don't have cameras (which is most of them).

Actually, I always felt they made the streets less safe because my automatic reflex when I see one is to tap the brakes and check my speedometer. If someone is tailgating me, a sudden, unexpected brake could result in an accident. Similarly, there may be other things happening on the street that need more attention than my speedometer.

I always felt that posting the signs that display your speed would be safer than just installing cameras, because they keep your eyes on the road and let you know if you need to reduce your speed. I also like the speed bump recommendation from another PP.

So you:
-aren’t paying attention to speed limit signs when driving
-aren’t aware of your speed when driving
-aren’t paying attention to cars around you enough to not notice a tailgater
-are slamming on brakes hard enough to be rear ended in a <35 mph zone
-need expensive devices on the side of the street to tell you how fast you are going rather than paying attention yourself

It sounds like maybe you shouldn’t be driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's counter-intuitive, but traffic cameras make streets less safe because:

1. Now, no one is policing drunk and stoned drivers

2. Dangerous drivers will just avoid the streets that have traffic cameras (and they know that no traffic camera = no traffic enforcement). They can do whatever they want on streets that don't have cameras (which is most of them).

It's counter-intuitive because it's false.

[Anonymous]

So stop at stop signs and red lights and don’t speed. Easy. This behavior is not tied to one’s income. Like the PP, I have been driving all over the DC area for years and never gotten a ticket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's counter-intuitive, but traffic cameras make streets less safe because:

1. Now, no one is policing drunk and stoned drivers

2. Dangerous drivers will just avoid the streets that have traffic cameras (and they know that no traffic camera = no traffic enforcement). They can do whatever they want on streets that don't have cameras (which is most of them).

Actually, I always felt they made the streets less safe because my automatic reflex when I see one is to tap the brakes and check my speedometer. If someone is tailgating me, a sudden, unexpected brake could result in an accident. Similarly, there may be other things happening on the street that need more attention than my speedometer.

I always felt that posting the signs that display your speed would be safer than just installing cameras, because they keep your eyes on the road and let you know if you need to reduce your speed. I also like the speed bump recommendation from another PP.

So you:
-aren’t paying attention to speed limit signs when driving
-aren’t aware of your speed when driving
-aren’t paying attention to cars around you enough to not notice a tailgater
-are slamming on brakes hard enough to be rear ended in a <35 mph zone
-need expensive devices on the side of the street to tell you how fast you are going rather than paying attention yourself

It sounds like maybe you shouldn’t be driving.

This is actually how the vast majority of people drive unfortunately. People get in a multi-ton vehicle and turn off large parts of their brain, because driving is a drag and people just want it to be over.

That's why we have millions of crashes, millions of injuries and 40,000 deaths per year on the road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's counter-intuitive, but traffic cameras make streets less safe because:

1. Now, no one is policing drunk and stoned drivers

2. Dangerous drivers will just avoid the streets that have traffic cameras (and they know that no traffic camera = no traffic enforcement). They can do whatever they want on streets that don't have cameras (which is most of them).

Actually, I always felt they made the streets less safe because my automatic reflex when I see one is to tap the brakes and check my speedometer. If someone is tailgating me, a sudden, unexpected brake could result in an accident. Similarly, there may be other things happening on the street that need more attention than my speedometer.

I always felt that posting the signs that display your speed would be safer than just installing cameras, because they keep your eyes on the road and let you know if you need to reduce your speed. I also like the speed bump recommendation from another PP.

So you:
-aren’t paying attention to speed limit signs when driving
-aren’t aware of your speed when driving
-aren’t paying attention to cars around you enough to not notice a tailgater
-are slamming on brakes hard enough to be rear ended in a <35 mph zone
-need expensive devices on the side of the street to tell you how fast you are going rather than paying attention yourself

It sounds like maybe you shouldn’t be driving.

This is actually how the vast majority of people drive unfortunately. People get in a multi-ton vehicle and turn off large parts of their brain, because driving is a drag and people just want it to be over.

That's why we have millions of crashes, millions of injuries and 40,000 deaths per year on the road.

This is why we need automated enforcement. Actually we need many things, but one of them is automated enforcement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's counter-intuitive, but traffic cameras make streets less safe because:

1. Now, no one is policing drunk and stoned drivers

2. Dangerous drivers will just avoid the streets that have traffic cameras (and they know that no traffic camera = no traffic enforcement). They can do whatever they want on streets that don't have cameras (which is most of them).

It's counter-intuitive because it's false.

Wow. Powerful argument. Traffic cameras are easy to game if you're a driver. You can speed so long as you don't go more than 10 mph over the limit on streets with cameras. You can blow stop signs as long as you're not on one of the rare streets with stop sign cameras. You can drink a bottle of vodka and drive all you want and nothing will happen so long as you don't crash.

[Anonymous]

There was a grand total of NINE traffic deaths caused by speeding drivers in Washington DC in 2022 (the most recent stats available from the police). You're more likely to be killed by a speeding driver than be struck by lightning, but not that much more likely.

This isn't about safety. It's about replacing all the revenue the city is losing from the collapse of downtown.

[Anonymous]

I don’t mind the speed cameras or even the stop sign ones, but I’ve gotten two red light cameras for unfair things (once turning right around an illegally parked car and once for stopping *just* over the line in heavy traffic). Those annoyed me. Like yes, I’m supposed to stop fully before the white line. But I was over by like 4”, didn’t block anything including the crosswalk, and they gave me a $100 ticket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was a grand total of NINE traffic deaths caused by speeding drivers in Washington DC in 2022 (the most recent stats available from the police). You're more likely to be killed by a speeding driver than be struck by lightning, but not that much more likely.

This isn't about safety. It's about replacing all the revenue the city is losing from the collapse of downtown.

In fairness I don’t really fear death from speeders, more just injuries and property damage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t mind the speed cameras or even the stop sign ones, but I’ve gotten two red light cameras for unfair things (once turning right around an illegally parked car and once for stopping *just* over the line in heavy traffic). Those annoyed me. Like yes, I’m supposed to stop fully before the white line. But I was over by like 4”, didn’t block anything including the crosswalk, and they gave me a $100 ticket.

So next time, stop fully before the white line.