Putting The Brakes On Red Light Cameras Is The Wrong Approach
Opinion
by Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski
Red light cameras are successfully used in a growing body of U.S. communities, as well as across the globe – from Taiwan to Germany to the United Kingdom – to reduce accidents caused by ignoring traffic signals at busy intersections.
The argument that red light cameras will somehow be responsible for an explosion in the number of rear-end collisions at intersections is patently absurd.
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One of the guiding principles enmeshed in Title 39 is that a driver must have their vehicle under control at all times. Opponents of this measure, however, assume that drivers don’t and won’t have their cars under control and will, as a consequence, crash into other vehicles stopped at lights.
The very notion that drivers aren’t paying attention behind the wheel was the reason for creating this pilot program in the first place. If drivers aren’t paying attention – probably because they think no one is watching – it’s possible these cameras will make them better, more attentive motorists, which will undoubtedly save lives.
And if even one life is saved because of these cameras, then they will have been well worth the controversy.
Assemblyman Wisniewski represents five Middlesex County municipalities in the 19th Legislative District.
