Caution for Florida Drivers

[Pat]

FYI: The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) quietly changed the state's policy on yellow intervals in 2011, reducing the minimum below federal recommendations. The rule change was followed by engineers, both from FDOT and local municipalities, collaborating to shorten the length of yellow lights at key intersections, specifically those with red light cameras (RLCs).

While yellow light times were reduced by mere fractions of a second, research indicates a half-second reduction in the interval can double the number of RLC citations -- and the revenue they create.

So if you are living in or visiting the Sunshine State even though you are in a rapture of harmony between man and machine; you may want to be judicious when you try to stretch that caution light.
Click on areas of this map for specific Florida red light camera locations.

About.com: http://www.photoenforced.com/florida.html

 

[Bob Fechter]

Oh, I thought this was going to have something to do with "Love Bugs." ;~)










`

 

[John Milmont]

Big government at work!

 

[Larry L.]

The tactics above have repeatedly been confirmed as the S.O.P. across the nation.

Clearly $$$$$$$$$$$$$ is the cameras' actual purpose - not safety as the various city halls always try to claim.

 

[Pat]

Bob, don't start me on Love Bugs, the nastly little critters have ruined more automotive paint than Wallmart shopping carts... well, maybe almost as much.

 

[Bob Fechter]

They's evuwheah.

 

[Doug S.]

Clearly $$$$$$$$$$$$$ is the cameras' actual purpose - not safety as the various city halls always try to claim.

We have had some success here in TX getting rid of the RLC's.

The city of Houston, which entered into a contract without voter approval for red light cameras, experienced a voter backlash when a referendum was passed to eliminate the RLC's. The city turned them off and was quickly sued by the company with whom they had contracted...so they turned them back on while they appealed the court's ruling.

Eventually the city bowed to the power of the vote and shut 'em down, but those who received tickets while the cameras were active still owe the $$....or, so says the city.

The city of Sugar Land, which is about 10 miles south of the Houston city limit, recently cited statistics that showed lower accident rates at many of the intersections where the red lights were installed compared to before the cameras were installed. Then they did a very "un-city-like" thing and removed the red light cameras....but you can bet a paycheck that if the accident rates go back up, so with the red light cameras.

I agree, it's a money-grabbing tactic...but, I travel the areas in Sugar Land where the red light cameras are very frequently and I know I pay much more heed to when the yellow comes on, don't push the envelope, so to speak...but more often I just avoid the intersections with the red light cameras. Here in TX it's just sort of common knowledge that if you are sitting at a red light you don't go through an intersection for 5 seconds after the light turns green, because there will be half a dozen cars who pushed the envelope and didn't make it.

What is it Red Green says?...."I'm a man. I can change....if I HAVE TO :veryangry: "

The RLC's can be defeated....it takes time and grassroots efforts, but it can happen.

Cheers!

Doug