Highway Monitoring Systems

Re: Re: Lay-off Cops?

That's because traffic is most of what the Troopers do.

 

Re: Re: Lay-off Cops?

Well, that oughta be a lesson to them lawbreakers to drive safely so as not to attract the attention of the cops, no?

 

Fair, if truly used to protect the public. But unfair, because they're really used just to boost revenues. Notice where they're used: in areas where the speed limits really are too low. (Modern cars are so much more capable of faster speeds and safer crashes.)

For speeding, I think they're horrible and only raise revenues. (I also think that about police officers loitering around with radar guns instead of fighting crime.) But I like red light cameras because I think they deter light-running, which is extremely dangerous.

I wish traffic cops would spend more time ticketing:

>>>>People who dart in and out of lanes. Lane discipline saves accidents.

>>>>People who drive considerably faster or slower than traffic will allow. (As opposed to someone speeding along relatively alone.) It is the differential, not the actual speed, that is the issue.

>>>>People who tailgate. These idiots ought to do time.

>>>>People who roll through right turns at red lights. They turn right as if it was a yield. And if you decide to make a complete turn ahead of them, look out!

Reading an article about Germany's Autobahn recently, I noted that the police said they focused their enforcement on lane discipline and tailgating--even using electronic assistance for the latter. And I think we all know how safe the Autobahn is.

It's all a game of perverse chicken, and if turned to the voters, we'd toss it out and demand cops do things that raised safety levels, not revenues. Fat chance!

 

Oh! I thought you meant cameras to catch guys in the red light district.

 

I've never been a big traffic enforcement guy, but you'd be surprised to see the number of guns, drugs, and warrant arrests that originate as traffic stops. I've never understood why someone carrying an illegal handgun and an eight-ball of cocaine would speed or go through red lights, but it's job security.

 

Well - criminals are not exactly the brightest of the bunch - or have much common sense. Yep -- the ole traffic stop. I especially liked the 5202VC stops (no front license plate) - it is amazing how many people don't understand that if you are issued two plates (which is universal except for m/c in CA), you have to put them on the car. It is great PC for a stop and netting me a couple of nice busts.

 

I'd have to agree with you there, Bruce.

But that still leaves cameras, which (a) raise revenues and (b) don't catch the bad guys.

If speed limits on highways, major streets, and freeways were raised to reasonable levels, I'd be okay with speed trapping. There are some people that will always go over the speed limit, no matter what it is. But some of us would just like to proceed at a safe, brisk pace.

For example, the Metro DC beltway is 55 MPH. Anyone who's driven it knows that's a joke. Put it at 70 (where most people are anyway) and ticket the jerks who need to go 80.

 

On the subject of speed limits, back when all interstate highways had a speed limit of 55 mph, the practice for construction zones was usually to reduce the posted limit to 45mph. I always just figured they had determined that 45mph was a safe speed in contruction zones.

Now that speed limits are higher, my state is 65, most construction zone speed limits are 55. So what's the deal? Why was 55 not a safe speed at one time, but now it is?

 

The authobahn...

The autobahns have lower fatality rates mostly because they are built much, much safer. Unguarded things like bridge rails and overpass structures are common in the USA and are almost unheard of in Europe. Also, the opposing lanes have a guardrail between them in Europe which prevents crossover accidents which are common over here. However, after working as an MP in Europe for 12 years I can attest that autobahn accidents are very, very common and are often horrific. Saw a Maserati Biturbo munched in one I responded too. Had been a beautiful car........

 

In my town the police seem understaffed to do much about the traffic situation, which is terrible. I would back using cameras to get red light runners, which are all too common here.

FYI- in Florida, we don't have the front license tag either.

 

I agree right back at you. I'm not at all a fan of camera tickets, mostly because they don't identify who's actually driving.

I'm also in favor of raising speed limits on interstate highways. There is no reason why major roads like I-95 can't have a 75mph speed limit, since that's the flow of traffic anyway.

Whenever my sergeant gets on my case about citations, I'll sometimes run radar, and I always give people a 10mph cushion. If the speed limit is 30mph, I won't even bother stopping anyone who is doing less than 40mph. Besides accounting for speedmeter error, a 10mph buffer eliminates a lot of people's P&V for argument.