Red-light camera study-Houston
 

The study authors are suprisingly in favor of the cameras despite accidents doubling at camera sites.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6185795.html

Study: Wrecks increase at red-light cameras sites



By BRADLEY OLSON Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle

Dec. 29, 2008, 4:22PM


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<!-- BEGIN GALLERY MODULE --><!-- END GALLERY MODULE --><!-- BEGIN SHARING MODULE -->Read the full report here (pdf)

See the locations of the red-light cameras



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Red-light cameras installed at some of Houston's most dangerous intersections did not reduce the number of crashes there, according to a long-awaited study the city commissioned on the matter.

In fact, wrecks at intersections with at least one red-light camera more than doubled, the data shows. The analysis examined accident data at intersections that had at least one camera which monitored traffic in one direction, or "approach" of the intersection.

Study authors said the reason for the increase at "monitored approaches" is actually that the city has seen a major uptick in collisions during the past year, one that they believe red-light cameras helped mitigate. In other words, the study, released today, concludes that there were far fewer collisions at intersections with red-light cameras than there otherwise would have been if the cameras had not been installed.
"Collisions are going up all over the city," said Bob Stein, a Rice University political science professor and one of report's four authors. "But red-light cameras have held back that increase at approaches where they have been installed."

The results further inflamed critics of the cameras who called into question such a conclusion, given that there is no obvious reason to conclude that accidents have gone up across the city in the past year. Data from the Houston Police Department shows that crashes have declined in Houston since 2004.

The conclusion the study makes "is insane," said Randall Kallinen, an attorney who has previously challenged the installation of the cameras in court and who filed an open records lawsuit last week to force the city to disclose documents related to the study.

"In one year, the accident rate in the city of Houston has more than doubled? You can't just assume that the wild increase somehow has nothing to do with the cameras."

Mayor Bill White said the findings prove that the red light cameras are making city streets safer.
"The program is proving successful in improving public safety, which has been the goal since the beginning," White said in a written statement. "We believe the findings and conclusions provide sound evidence of that."
bradley.olson@chron.com

Here's the text. I underlined the pertinent portion. Un-freekin-believable.

In other words, "we went through the motions of collecting empirical data but our conclusions are completely antithetical to it because our conjecture is obviously more valid than the scientific methodology used".

Anyone with half a brain can interpret this further to mean, "thanks for the money for the study suckers, and we're going to force the cameras on you anyway, make intersections less safe and probably make a lot more money!"

A-holes. I swear my patience is seriously running thin with our government. If the citizens of this country had any balls at all they'd run these jackasses out of town, preferably at gunpoint.

- - - - -

Red-light cameras installed at some of Houston's most dangerous intersections did not reduce the number of crashes there, according to a long-awaited study the city commissioned on the matter.

In fact, wrecks at intersections with at least one red-light camera more than doubled, the data shows. The analysis examined accident data at intersections that had at least one camera which monitored traffic in one direction, or "approach" of the intersection.

Study authors said the reason for the increase at "monitored approaches" is actually that the city has seen a major uptick in collisions during the past year, one that they believe red-light cameras helped mitigate. In other words, the study, released today, concludes that there were far fewer collisions at intersections with red-light cameras than there otherwise would have been if the cameras had not been installed.

"Collisions are going up all over the city," said Bob Stein, a Rice University political science professor and one of report's four authors. "But red-light cameras have held back that increase at approaches where they have been installed."

The results further inflamed critics of the cameras who called into question such a conclusion, given that there is no obvious reason to conclude that accidents have gone up across the city in the past year. Data from the Houston Police Department shows that crashes have declined in Houston since 2004.

The conclusion the study makes "is insane," said Randall Kallinen, an attorney who has previously challenged the installation of the cameras in court and who filed an open records lawsuit last week to force the city to disclose documents related to the study.

"In one year, the accident rate in the city of Houston has more than doubled? You can't just assume that the wild increase somehow has nothing to do with the cameras."

Mayor Bill White said the findings prove that the red light cameras are making city streets safer.

"The program is proving successful in improving public safety, which has been the goal since the beginning," White said in a written statement. "We believe the findings and conclusions provide sound evidence of that."

Whoops, sorry about cross-posting the text with R.B., but you guys get the point. Simply unreal.

I used to like Mayor White...

Red light camera is not for public safety, but another mean of generating revenue.

It's really unbelievable the chit we as Americans will put up with...

That's because we elect these officials to make the new rules.

I swear I'm going to start a ballot initiative to add a "D - None of the Above" choice to all ballots/elected offices. If that choice gets the majority vote, NOBODY FILLS THE OFFICE!!!

I'm sure the politicians would find a way to rule it invalid or summin' though... But I think I'm going to try anyway.

We simply got fuched on this deal. There is all kinds of evidence, and studies that reveal lengthening the yellow by a second to 1.5 seconds greatly reduces the number of right angle collisions, which is what "they" sought to reduce by installing them. Rear end collisions rise as a result of the cameras and drivers reaction to them.

Here's how we got screwed in Texas. The bill was dead, at least 5 times. It never made it out of committee in either chamber, and was killed as an amendment a few more times. It was finally slid into a vehicle 5 days before the end of the 140 day session in 2003. It was offered up as a 3rd reading amendment to SB1184 which was described by the author as being a "clerical amendment". Those types of amendments are typical with 5 days left in the session, but this one was not. Very few members of the Legislature knew it went on (voice vote, busy floor), and the governor had to have the bill, so he signed it. The members of the Legislature were pissed to say the least. However, they didn't repeal it in 2005, although there were bills to do so. They did restructure the stream of revenue though.

The woman legislator, who whored for two good friends of mine, is my state representative. She lives just around the corner. I don't much care for her even though she runs on my party's ticket and recently won re-election by 19? votes.

I'll gladly show you where she lives if you ever come to Irving, Texas.

Hey Matt.....How bout dem cowboys!!!!

see the other post. Congrats, now run the tables and keep it in the NFC East.

I do not believe I have ever seen a study on red light cameras where they show them doing anything other than raising revenue and increasing rear enders when peopl stop abruptly.

three words for you

paint ball gun

though it is probably a felony to paint over those cameras

Yes, and don't forget they actually decrease the length of time the yellow stays on with a red light camera to better their chances of "catching you".

There's one of these cameras on my way to work every morning. I actually take great pleasure in sitting there (even if I'm making a right hand turn) with several people behind me getting pissed off that I'm not making the "right on red". IMHO it's not worth it and I've actually had people honk at me; my usual response is to point at the camera and shrug. I ain't moving until I get a green and I actually hope it DOES piss them off to the point where they start complaining about it.

I've found that I can get the same red-light camera to trip when I'm bicycling. It's great fun to make the "right on red" on my road bike and give a nice big phat middle finger to the camera as it flashes me. I'm just some anonymous, unidentifiable dude on a bicycle - no consequences.

I truly do hate those f*king things. Completely unconstitutional and antithetical to the premise of "government by the people, for the people" IMHO. Bogus, bogus, bogus BS upheld by "the system" just to make money. It's just one more glaring example of how much the government of this state really does hate its citizens and look upon them as nothing more than a source of money.

Find out what kind of car she drives and the license plate number. Then rent a car of the same make, model and color. Make a fake plate out of cardboard that matches hers. Then run through every red light camera you can find that is close to her house, generating say 50 tickets. :D


I will bet she works against the d@mn things after that.


Note: I do not condone flagrantly defying the law. I do not encourage anyone to deliberately break the law. This is a conversation for entertainment value only.

Funny how they ignore their own study when it conflicts with their goals.

Haha would be great..i aint holding my breath though. :-p

Brilliant! A digital camera print-out of her plate should work...