Psychology
409a- December 3, 2005
My Third Outline of Assigned Readings
By Jessica Trujillo
Are Red Light Cameras Beneficial?
Reference: Rothe, J. Peter, ed. “Driving Lessons; Exploring systems that make
traffic safer.” The University
of Alberta Press.
Edmonton:2002.
303-315
Instructions for this activity are found
at:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/409a-g23-oral.htm
Instructor: Dr. Leon James
Concept 1: Rear-end Collisions
- Studies
have found that implementing red-light cameras has contributed to an
increase in rear end collisions because hypothetically, drivers who
normally run amber lights and likely continue driving thru the red light
may now stop suddenly because fear of the red-light camera.
- 16
different camera sites were monitored along with 16 different control
sites. They found that right-angle
crashes and right-turn-against crashes were decreased, but rear-end
collisions increased from 25% to 60% depending on location.
- I choose
this topic, because I would have never guessed that red light cameras
would actually increase the rear-end accident rate.
Concept 2: Red Light Violator
Characteristics
- This is
someone who doesn’t stop at a red light (whether inadvertently or
intentionally). According to
researchers, traffic safety practitioners should pay attention to drivers
who deliberately run red lights
- Jones
established a 3 second rule; most drivers that were within the 3 sec. of a
stop line at the onset of a yellow light, chose to proceed, where as those
that were further from three seconds, choose to stop. Characteristics include: younger then
age 30, male, more likely to be driving with suspended, revoked or invalid
drivers license, and prior DWI convictions and two or more moving driving
violation convictions.
- I chose
this topic because it is interesting to me that people who are already
worse off, and have had consequences for their actions will continue to
break the law
Concept 3: Economic implications
- The use
of cameras has released officers for other duties, like contributing to
the investigation and detection of other crimes. But some research has suggested that a
low insurance rate, and a high cost of automated enforcement may not be a
cost effective initiative.
- Red
light cameras increased income for
most cities, and decreased the work load. It has been recommended that red-light
cameras be undertaken by civilians under police supervision to reduce
costs. In San Francisco the city had to parties, and paid
them each $30,000 for installation, and vendors received $17.50 for each
paid violation, and the equipment was the vendors’ property. It was evident that $17.50 was not
sufficient to maintain the program, and one vendor dropped out. The other one raised the ticket price
from $104 to $271.
- I choose
this topic because it is interesting to see both sides of the coin on the
expense.
Links:
1) http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/red-light-camera1.htm-
How it works
2) http://www.motorists.com/issues/enforce/-
NMA reveals the negative aspects
3) www.notbored.org/traffic-cameras.html- Article on cost and lack of benefits
Class
Homepage: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/classhome-g23.htm
My Homepage: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409af2005/trujillo/home.htm