Instructions for this activity are found at:

www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy25/g25-oral1.htm

Instructor: Dr. Leon James

Citation: Peter Rothe, Editor (2002). Driving Lessons: Exploring Systems That Make Traffic Safer. (Edmonton: University of Alberta Press). Reviewing pages 291 to 312.

I. Technology On The Road

1. Red-light camera is known as techno-policing

A. Red-light cameras are automated systems designed to photograph vehicles in violation of red traffic signals

B. It was designed to better intersection safety

C. Its intention is to reduce red-light running at intersections and decrease injury and death

2. The red-light cameras can operate under any weather and takes the photos on 35-mm film

A. They are activated when a vehicle crosses a trigger during the red phase of a signal

B. Red-running crashes occur when drivers fail to comply with the red-light signals and therefore crashes into another vehicle or pedestrian

3. My Opinion

I think that these red-light cameras are really good and is a technology breakthrough. It is impossible for a cop to be in presence of a violation at all times and some people really take advantage of that. By running a red- light you can cause serious injury to yourself and/or others. I think that this development of red-light cameras will further discourage drivers to break the driving laws.

II. Red Light Cameras Link to Collisions

1. The implementation of red-light cameras contributes to an increase in rear- end collisions

A. Drivers who normally run the yellow light and continue to drive through the red may now do a sudden stop in fear of the red-light camera

B. Drivers following behind who think the driver in front will go will possibly hit the lead car when the driver slams on his brakes

2. Red-light cameras are said to have reduced the number of collisions occurring at intersections

3. My Thoughts

I think that red-light cameras are similar to any kind of technology. There are always some positive and some negative aspects. But I guess what we need to decide is if the good outweighs the bad. I certainly think that in this case the possible case of rear-ending is far less worse than a huge intersection collision. I highly doubt that a rear-end will result in as big a fatality and will have less damage cost. I still maintain the stance that red- light cameras are for the better.

III. Red-light Violator Characteristics

1. Red-light runners are more likely to be younger than age 30 and male

2. They were more likely to be fatally injured at intersection crashes

3. Deaths occurred in 55 percent of red-running vehicles

4. Red-light runners are more likely to be driving with a suspended, revoked, or invalid drivers’ license and were more likely to have prior DWI convictions

5. My Feelings

I was not very surprised to see that red-light runners were usually younger than thirty and male. I would think that being male and that young is usually the impatient individuals. Its sad that they usually had a bad driving background because it shows that they did not learn from their past mistakes. I think that these people need to be somehow be banned from driving or put into extreme driving lesson classes. The information that 55% of red-running vehicles result in death shows how important it is to drive safely. All it takes is one mistake to set a life-altering action in motion.

IV. Three Links

1. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/red-light-camera.htm

This site provides additional information concerning the red-light cameras. It makes you re-think going through a red-light while driving ever again. The webpage even shows a picture of the red-light cameras on an actual intersection.

2. http://www.motorists.com/issues/enforce/index.html

This web site is the national motorists association reaction to the red-light cameras. It provides information on why they oppose the cameras. They even provide alternatives to red-light cameras. I think that this is a great site because it shows a direct opposition toward red-light cameras and provides a different view point. They also give some really good supporting information and the alternatives were interesting.

3. http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersections/rlr_report/chap2.htm

This website defines red-light running and even has a chart showing statistics. It lists the safety impacts of red-light running and the crash types related. It also gives a lot more characteristics of drivers who run red-lights than I provided above. I really enjoyed reading this and it seems like a very educated essay.

My Homepage: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409af2006/alcover/alcover-home.htm

Class Homepage: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy25/classhome-g25.htm