Is it really a surprise? Florida drivers take note.

[stomachmonkey]

TAMPA BAY, Florida -- A subtle, but significant tweak to Florida's rules regarding traffic signals has allowed local cities and counties to shorten yellow light intervals, resulting in millions of dollars in additional red light camera fines.

Florida quietly shortened yellow light standards & lengths, resulting in more red light camera tickets for you | wtsp.com

[masraum]

Haven't they shortened the yellows every place that they've put in red light cameras?

[Heel n Toe]

My first wife lived in Florida (St. Pete) for a few years in the early 70's. She said they had the longest yellows she had ever experienced.

She found out it was because of all the old geezers driving down there. They had to lengthen the yellows because the geezers would go sailing through the intersection on the red otherwise... their reaction times were so slow.

So the longer yellows were begun to save lives. And it worked.

Shortening them makes no sense. People are gonna die.
__________________
But there are few tangible safety benefits to short yellow lights. In fact, they appear to have the opposite effects; according to the USDOT and FHA, short yellow lights raise crash rates.

"A one second increase in yellow time results in 40 percent decrease in severe red light related crashes," the report said.

Jim Walker said shortening a driver's window for reacting to a yellow light creates more difficult split-second decisions, which can lead to more rear end collisions too. And he contends most serious accidents aren't coming from the "innocent driver" who gets caught by a short yellow. They're caused by blatant red light runners who will run a light regardless of yellow light length.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

They don't care about safety one bit; this is about money. It's well documented that red light camera presence results in more accidents, particularly rear-end collisions when drivers slam on their brakes to avoid getting cited and the car behind them rams into them.

These devices are absolutely, 100% about revenue. Nothing else.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by masraum

Haven't they shortened the yellows every place that they've put in red light cameras?

They have in NJ. In fact a suit was instituted. The program has been suspended.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

They don't care about safety one bit; this is about money. It's well documented that red light camera presence results in more accidents, particularly rear-end collisions when drivers slam on their brakes to avoid getting cited and the car behind them rams into them.

These devices are absolutely, 100% about revenue. Nothing else.

This was the exact effect in Houston. Big lawsuit with the camera company when the voters said enough.

[sc_rufctr]

It always feel like crap when a Government tries to rip off it's people. Nothing new mind you and it seems to be getting worse.

But at least some people are trying to do something about it.

I've always respected the cops but lately it's getting ridiculous. A teen age girl I know threw a cigarette butt out of her window and a cop fined her $520!
Don't get me wrong, she should not have done that but he fine amount is just stupid. And it was raining at the time

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

I've always respected the cops but lately it's getting ridiculous. A teen age girl I know threw a cigarette butt out of her window and a cop fined her $520!
Don't get me wrong, she should not have done that but he fine amount is just stupid.

I see no problem whatsoever with either the citation or the fine.

[john70t]

Why hasn't the NHTSA put minimum rules on states?
Jurisdiction?
Obviously, in a 50mph zone 1.2 seconds is unsafe.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

It always feel like crap when a Government tries to rip off it's people. Nothing new mind you and it seems to be getting worse.

Private companies are part of the problem behind this

California: Redflex Wrote Changes to Red Light Camera Legislation

3 Private Companies Making Money from Red Light Tickets | The World Justice Project

Inspector General's Audit Raises More Questions About Red Light Camera Program: Chicagoist

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

.......

I've always respected the cops but lately it's getting ridiculous. A teen age girl I know threw a cigarette butt out of her window and a cop fined her $520!
Don't get me wrong, she should not have done that but he fine amount is just stupid. And it was raining at the time

Betcha she never does it again, which is kind of the point.

Raining or not you don't toss stuff out your car window.

It's rude and disgusting and there is no excusable reason for it.

[gt350mike]

I'm not sure if the problem exist in Tampa, but in in Miami it really doesn't matter if the duration of the yellow is three seconds or five, people will still run the light. I've seen people pass through an intersection four or five seconds after the opposing lane's light has turned green. That is one of many reasons my dad moved to Naples.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Betcha she never does it again, which is kind of the point.

Raining or not you don't toss stuff out your car window.

It's rude and disgusting and there is no excusable reason for it.

I agree with you 100% but the amount of the fine was shocking to me. $520 is a lot of money.

I would have thought somewhere around $250 would have been reasonable.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

I agree with you 100% but the amount of the fine was shocking to me. $520 is a lot of money.

In California, it's $500 + 8 hours of picking up trash on the side of the road

VC 23111 throwing lit cigarette out of car | California VC 23111

[Esel Mann]

It's getting crazy down here.

The red light running is out of control down here. In principle the red light camera program would definitely go a long way to stopping that issue. However yellow lights do need to be adjusted so as to permit a heads-up and adequate time to react to the jokers who slam on their breaks to avoid running the red light. Definitely a decrease in the yellow light time will have consequences for the typical mentally challenged driver down here.

Principle, in this case however is only good on paper. The implementation has been a disaster. Incorrect LP readings, False red light run readings, more rear end collisions, migration from a safety enforcement tool to a revenue tool.


Unfortunately the mental challengement for driving doesn't stop there. Those same people vote too, so I doubt we will be able to vote this crap out.

The best bet as always is to drive on the conservative/defensive side.

[techweenie]

I like the idea of red light cameras. It's the implementation that went awry.

[Zeke]

I'm in favor of red light districts.

[T77911S]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

. A teen age girl I know threw a cigarette butt out of her window and a cop fined her $520!
Don't get me wrong, she should not have done that but he fine amount is just stupid. And it was raining at the time

i was at a stop light on my bicycle when a cop did that. just to let him know that i knew he did something wrong i said " you would give me a ticket if i did that" he said yes i would and rolled his window up.

personally i think the smokers should get more than that. there is no reason to throw ciggs out the window.
next time you pull up to a light, just look along the side o f the road and all the butts.

[porsche4life]

Quote de stomachmonkey

Betcha she never does it again, which is kind of the point.



Raining or not you don't toss stuff out your car window.



It's rude and disgusting and there is no excusable reason for it.

I agree with you 100% but the amount of the fine was shocking to me. $520 is a lot of money.



I would have thought somewhere around $250 would have been reasonable.

And if she had started a fire and burned down your house.... Would that have been enough?

[URY914]

Back on topic please.....