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25 February 2007
Short light">yellow light times stop Lubbock's red light cameras
The Newspaper.com points to a news story about Lubbock postponing installation of red light cameras after a local news outlet discovered light">yellow light times at intersections scheduled to receive cameras were a tad on the short side.
Back when cameras were up for debate (I use that term loosely) in Houston, concern about light">yellow light times was brought up by a couple of city councilmembers. Mayor White made soothing noises about looking into the issue, but then said he wasn't too eager to lengthen light">yellow light times because it would reduce mobility.
Perhaps one of our fine local TV news investigative teams could check out light">yellow light times at Houston intersections with red light cameras.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light">yellow light times stop Lubbock's red light cameras"> 02/25/07 04:44 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Comments (1)
18 August 2007
Longer light">yellow-light times decrease red-light running (cont'd)
TheNewspaper.com highlights what happened at a red-light camera intersection in Springfield, Missouri, when the light">yellow-light time was increased:
Springfield, Missouri found that lengthening the light">yellow signal warning time at intersections that had previously been selected for the city's new red light camera program has now eliminated profit from the system. The city has decided to address this problem by moving its cameras to intersections where the light">yellow warning time has been shortened by at least half-a-second.
Just remember -- it's about safety, not revenue.
PREVIOUSLY: bH posts on light">yellow light times
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light">yellow-light times decrease red-light running (cont'd)"> 08/18/07 08:47 AM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (2)
23 October 2005
Real proof that longer light">yellow-light times reduce red-light running
I keep saying that lengthening light">yellow-light times is THE way to reduce red-light running, and here's why (via The Newspaper):
Mesa’s [Arizona] red–light camera citations dropped by more than half after the city added a second of time to the light">yellow arrow lights at double–laned left turns. Officials then doubted the effect would last as motorists got used to the four–second light">yellow light.
But it has. Mesa police said the number of red–light camera citations never recovered from the plummet it took in mid–November at the six intersections where the light">yellow–light times were changed. At those sites, camera citations went from 1,640 in November to 716 in December. In March, the cameras recorded 734 violations.
That was back in 2001. Mesa, Arizona, never did recover the lost red-light camera revenue and has now turned to speed cameras, coupled with lower speed limits.
During the red-light camera debate last December, two councilmembers asked Mayor White to consider lengthening light">yellow-light times, to no avail.
It is worth pointing out again that eighty percent of red-light running occurs in the first second after a light has turned red. Yes, there will always be a percentage of people who run red lights, but if the goal is to reduce that number overall and increase safety, lengthening light">yellow-times is more effective than revenue-generating red-light cameras.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light">yellow-light times reduce red-light running"> 10/23/05 08:49 AM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (7)
18 November 2005
Travis Street getting red light cameras (updated)
This KPRC-2 story lists three of the intersections getting red light cameras:
Red-light cameras have been installed at several city intersections, including:
* Travis Street at McGowen Street
* Milam Street at McGowen Street
* San Jacinto Street at Travis StreetTwo other intersections, which the city has not released, will also have red-light cameras monitoring traffic.
All that Travis guessing seems to have been right on the mark.
Watch your rear, beginning Monday!
UPDATE: Oooookay. This KTRK-13 story says these intersections are getting cameras:
The red light camera locations are at Travis at McGowen, Milam and McGowen, Milam and Jefferson and San Jacincto and Texas.
I wondered about San Jacinto at Travis in the KPRC story, since Mapquest shows those two streets running parallel to each other. And Milam at Jefferson is the fourth one to be named (or found out). Now we are waiting to find out what intersection number five is!
UPDATE 2: Now all we need is some intrepid local reporter to document the light">yellow-light times at these intersections, first to make sure the light">yellow-light time is really sufficient for stopping, and second to make sure there are no light">yellow-light time shenanigans going on, as time progresses. That's one problem that has been documented in other cities -- light">yellow-light times are shortened to increase ticket revenue.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light cameras (updated)"> 11/18/05 10:57 AM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (1)
02 May 2005
Slow the red light running "epidemic" by lengthening light">yellow light times
KHOU-11 shows Mayor White a little love with this story on the "epidemic" of red light running:
Mayor Bill White says drivers who run red lights are "an epidemic".
If you're looking for lawbreakers who don't like to wait for lights, you don't have to wait long to find them in Houston. "The light is red now. One, two, three four. They just keep coming," says HPD officer Cedric Nickerson.
Apparently, too many Houston drivers ignore red lights when it comes to scooting through an intersection.
For now, officers pull over violators when they can. "You slowed down but you didn't stop," Nickerson says to one driver. Mayor White wants to see more of that., which is why he wants a concerted effort at problem intersections
"We've got to have more tickets. For people running red lights. There has to be a consequence to it. And when there is, people will adapt," says White.
[snip]
That's why Mayor White and the city council want to use cameras to catch violators.
But for now it will have to be the old fashioned way and, unfortunately, officer Nickerson could do it all day.
The city's red light camera proposal is currently stalled in the state legislature, where there is an effort to block the city's ability to have them. Mayor White expects that to be rectified one way or the other by the end of the session.
The story includes a list of the most dangerous intersections.
We've addressed this before: if the city was serious about reducing red light runners, it would lengthen light">yellow light times first, to curb the "epidemic." What's so strange is that KHOU had a story a while back about light">yellow light times, yet it's never mentioned in today's story.
Also, it's interesting to remember that HPD's manpower situation is not optimal right now, and yet the mayor wants to focus on this "epidemic." Of course, the focus would be a nice revenue stream for the city.
We recommend the city try lengthening light">yellow light times by a couple of seconds at the worst intersections, if it's truly all about safety.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light running "epidemic" by lengthening light">yellow light times"> 05/02/05 01:10 PM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (1)
18 November 2007
This is what happens when light">yellow-light times are too short
A Dallas TV station timed light">yellow lights at intersections with red light cameras and found something interesting (via TheNewspaper.com):
The city's second highest revenue producing camera, for example, is located at the intersection of Greenville Avenue and Mockingbird Lane. It issued 9407 tickets worth $705,525 between January 1 and August 31, 2007. At the intersections on Greenville Avenue leadding up to the camera intersection, however, light">yellows are at least 3.5 or 4.0 seconds in duration, but the ticket producing intersection's light">yellow stands at just 3.15 seconds. The light">yellow is .35 seconds shorter than TxDOT's recommended bare minimum.
"For 30 miles per hour, if your light">yellow time was less than three and a half, you would not be giving that driver enough time to react and brake and stop prior to getting to the intersection," TxDOT Dallas District office transportation engineer supervisor Chris Blain told KDFW.
Sounds like shenanigans! Too bad Dallas doesn't have a Mayor White to guard against such things.
A small change in signal timing can have a great effect on the number of tickets issued. About four out of every five red light camera citations are issued before even a second has elapsed after the light changed to red, according to a report by the California State Auditor. This suggests that most citations are issued to those surprised by a quick-changing signal light.
[snip]
Dallas likewise installed the cameras at locations with existing short light">yellow times. A total of twenty-one camera intersections in Dallas have light">yellow times below TxDOT's bare minimum recommended amount. The Texas Transportation Institute study also found that shorter light">yellows generate a 110 percent jump in the number of tickets, but at the cost of safety. Increasing the light">yellow one second above the recommended minimum cut crashes by 40 percent.
Maybe one day one of our local news outlets will undertake a light">yellow-light timing investigation, just to make sure Houston is shenanigan-free.
BLOGVERSATION: Mike McGuff
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light">yellow-light times are too short"> 11/18/07 04:04 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (4)
21 November 2005
Red light cameras are here; are speed cameras next?
Matt Stiles has a story in the Chronicle about the red light cameras that started operating today, and Chris Baker is talking about it on his show (KTRH-740).
The city's spin is that it's all about safety...oh, and helping out an understaffed HPD.
Regular readers will know that my spin is that this is all about revenue. It seems as if at least once a week we see a story in the media about someone running a red light and killing someone. Please explain how a red light camera will stop that. If someone doesn't care what color the traffic signal is, how is the threat of a picture and a $75 civil fine going to deter him or her?
In Matt Stiles' story, HPD's Martha Montalvo says:
"This is about increasing safety, making people more alert and using the technology that is out there," said Executive Assistant Police Chief Martha Montalvo, who is helping oversee the vendor-selection process.
Since the city and HPD didn't lengthen light">yellow light times -- which has proven to reduce red light running much more than cameras -- we know this is NOT about safety. It's about revenue. If it really was about safety, Mayor White would have followed through on his promise to two councilmembers to check out light">yellow light times.
And Montalvo is the HPD person who adamantly refused even to consider the idea of lengthening light">yellow light times last February. She said, "I don't see the logic of lengthening the light">yellow light." That's scary. Either she hasn't researched the issue and is woefully uninformed (and the issue is very clear and easy to understand), or she's refusing to consider any alternatives. Or...well, never mind.
Chris Baker wonders if speed cameras are next. Well, last February we learned that camera manufacturers were lobbying city council. Councilman Michael Berry assured Chris back then that speed cameras were not being considered. I don't find Berry's assurances comforting, since Council tends to roll over whenever Mayor White gets a new bee in his bonnet. If red light cameras are successful at generating revenue, you can bet speed cameras will be next.
PREVIOUSLY: Do red light cameras reduce accidents or generate revenue? (bH), WaPo discovers that red light cameras increase accidents in D.C. (bH), Real proof that longer light">yellow-light times reduce red-light running (bH)
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light cameras are here; are speed cameras next?"> 11/21/05 03:47 PM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (3)
08 June 2005
It's not about revenue, it's not about revenue, it's not about revenue...
In Orange County, CA, a grand jury has been studying the use of red light cameras within the county. What is especially noteworthy are the reasons why some cities have chosen NOT to install the cameras:
Grand jurors interviewed traffic engineers, as well as police, in Anaheim, Irvine, Newport Beach, Westminster, and Orange–all cities that do not use RLCs. They were asked why they do not. In general, representatives of these cities said they do not need RLCs because they do not have a red light violation problem that warrants use of the devices, or because they are using other ways to deal with the problem. Some of those methods are:
* Coordinating traffic signals, thereby reducing driver frustration
* Using four-way red signals so that everyone has to stop for a few seconds
* Creating better signage for complicated intersections
* Using greater police presence at problem intersections
* Replacing incandescent bulbs in traffic signals with larger, brighter light emitting diodes (LEDs) that cost less, operate more efficiently, and can be powered by battery for up to four hours in the event of a power failure.
* Creating double left-turn lanes where practical
* Installing LED systems, commonly known as "rat boxes," that can signal a traffic officer when someone has run a red light. This enables an officer to be positioned so he will not have to chase the offending motorist through a busy intersection, creating a potential danger for him and other motorists than the red-light-runner has already created.
But none of those methods will generate any revenue for the city of Houston.
In Maryland, a judge investigated red light cameras after hearing numerous complaints from motorists in Baltimore. His full report is well worth reading, but it's interesting to note that light">yellow light times figure prominently in the report, including these observations:
There are reports that light">yellow light time variations occur on the same light. A rough analysis of several citations issued in Baltimore City documented this phenomenon. A light at the intersection of Falls Road and Northern Parkway has a City listed standard of 3.5 seconds. In four citations, the length of the light">yellow light on the citation was recorded at 3.2, 2.9, 3.2 and 3.0 seconds. When asked about this at a meeting, both DOT and ACS stated that the problem had been noted and was "being looked into." In response to the Court's written inquiry, the DOT described inconsistent light">yellow light times as being caused by "fluctuations in the voltage supply that cause minor variances in the timing circuits within the devices."[14] However, the DOT's voltage explanation accounts for only a 0.1 second variance and not the 0.3 variance described in the Falls Road and Northern Parkway intersection example described above.[15]
There is also a failure of the light">yellow light timings to adhere to the city's own set standards. The DOT sent the court a list of its light">yellow light settings at the intersections where there are RLCES. See Attachment 1. A rough analysis of approximately 181 citations yielded the following statistic. Approximately 39% of the citations had inconsistent light">yellow lights or a light">yellow light setting inconsistent with the city standard. Most alarming are instances when the inconsistent light">yellow light times have been less than the 3 second federal minimum. Nearly 10% of the 181 citations surveyed had a light">yellow light prior to the red light of 2.9 seconds. This is inconsistent with Federal standards and presents a grave danger to Baltimore City drivers.
MayorWhiteChiefHurtt have made it abundantly clear that adjusting light">yellow light times will not be considered in Houston, even though at least two city councilmembers asked that light">yellow light times be studied at problem intersections, and even though almost every study and investigation shows that lengthening light">yellow light times can make a big difference in reducing the number of red light runners.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 06/08/05 10:50 AM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (3)
03 May 2005
Local media helps city officials with red light camera issue (updated)
City officials may find these numbers, and more recent statistics that do not specify an accident cause, useful in making their case to the Legislature for the need to use cameras to identify red-light runners.
Isn't it nice that local media can help city officials make their case for red light cameras? If the media were really doing their job, they would provide both sides of the issue and point out that lengthening light">yellow light times is proven to reduce the problem. And it's something the city could do right now, at the worst intersections.
But, as we all know, that won't bring in any revenue.
UPDATE: A new KHOU-11 story says that Mayor White blames criminal defense attorneys for the problems he's having getting his revenue-generating red light cameras up and generating revenue. Did I mention these cameras are revenue generators?
Interestingly an attorney who opposes the cameras advocates...lengthening light">yellow light times!
[Attorney Paul] Kubosh says if safety were the city's real motivator, it could do better by re-timing lights and extending the light">yellow cycle. He's fighting the cameras for one simple reason. "The intersections can be set up to trap motorists. It is just a money grab," he says.
"If people stop running red lights, there won't be revenue. And I'd be the happiest person around," says Mayor White.
Except that some cities have been caught shortening light">yellow light times to increase revenue, and Washington D.C.'s mayor got himself into some hot water by inadvertently admitting that the cameras' main purpose is to make money for the District.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light camera issue (updated)"> 05/03/05 10:57 AM | Houston Media | Technorati | Comments (1)
14 March 2009
When Georgia increased light">yellow light times, red light camera violations tanked
On January 1, a new Georgia law kicked in forcing a one-second increase in the duration of the light">yellow warning light at intersections with red light cameras. The result has been devastating for red light camera makers as violations -- and revenue -- immediately plunged for the months of January, February and March. Last week, the city of Norcross dumped photo enforcement. Now the UK-owned red light camera maker Lasercraft is offering its customers a 90-day suspension of service to prevent cities from dropping their automated ticketing contracts. The cities of Lilburn and Snellville accepted this offer yesterday and suspended their red light camera programs.
"With the passage of House Bill 77, effective January 1, 2009, there has been a precipitous decline in the number of citations issued through the program," Lilburn Police Chief J.B. Davidson wrote in a memo to the city council.
The mandated increase in signal time created dramatic and instant results. In 2008, Lasercraft issued an average of 1,559 citations each month. In January, that number dropped 80 percent to just 313. Norcross also saw an 80 percent drop in violations.
Not that MayorWhiteChiefHurtt would be interested in that approach for Houston.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light">yellow light times, red light camera violations tanked"> 03/14/09 02:37 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (6)
05 February 2009
HPD: Let's expand red light camera program
In response to the city's questionable red light camera study which concluded that accidents increased at intersections with at least one red light camera, HPD is considering adding more red light cameras:
The Houston Police Department is considering changes — possibly even expansion — to its red-light camera program after a city-commissioned study showed that crashes went up at intersections where the devices have been installed.
“What we’re concerned about is safety, safety, safety at these intersections,” said Executive Assistant Chief Timothy Oettmeier, whose command includes the camera system. “We want fewer injuries, we certainly don’t want any death, and we want a reduction in accidents.”
How about lengthening light">yellow light times?
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light camera program"> 02/05/09 05:03 AM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (5)
13 February 2006
HPD answers questions about red light cameras
Today's Chronicle Q & A is with Assistant HPD Chief Martha Montalvo on the topic of red light cameras. This appears to be one of the better Q & A's (which is NOT a ringing endorsement), although it's lacking some tough questions and follow-ups:
Q: What happens if city vehicles run red lights?
A: If there wasn't an emergency purpose for running that red light or if there wasn't a reason, then that employee will have to pay.
It would be nice if our local watchdog media actually follow up to see if this is happening.
Q: Some critics have complained that cameras result in more rear-end collisions as drivers stop suddenly to avoid getting caught by cameras. Is this true?
A: I've read some of the studies in regard to that. There's also studies that show that the red-light cameras play a part in reducing a lot of the right-angle crashes, or driver-side crashes, which are more dangerous than the rear-end crashes.
That is just BEGGING for a follow-up question (or two or three!). What does Montalvo think of the studies she's read about rear-end collisions? Why does she think that using automation that causes collisions is preferable to using actual police officers? What does she think about the Washington Post investigation that found serious-injury accidents and fatalities increased at intersections with red light cameras?
Q: Some say the city's motive is to raise revenue. Is that true?
A: That is not true. Each of these citations will be $75 a pop. Of course, after a third violation it goes up to $150. But our priority is, and always has been, safety.
Follow-up! If the goal isn't revenue, why didn't the city try lengthening light">yellow light times first? Here's Montalvo's take on that from a KHOU-11 story awhile back:
A study in San Diego found that simply lengthening the light">yellow light by a second cut violations by 25 percent and adding less than two seconds, cut them by 90 percent.
They also discovered that the company hired to run the program was getting paid per ticket issued and had been shaving time off the light">yellow lights.
Montalvo vows that won't happen here, but also says she doesn't intend to even try adding a second or two to the light">yellow lights. She's sticking with the cameras.
"I truly believe this program is going to work, and I don't see the logic of lengthening the light">yellow light," she says.
It's hard to believe Montalvo survived that withering Q & A session.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light cameras"> 02/13/06 02:24 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (4)
24 February 2005
House passes red light camera bill
The Texas House has passed the bill that would most likely end Houston's planned red light camera program:
The 109-30 vote came after minimum debate in the House, and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who presides over the Senate, said today that he expects that chamber to "look favorably" on the measure.
[snip]
The Legislature voted in 2003 to ban camera enforcement of criminal red light sanctions, but Houston proposes to issue civil citations to red-light violators caught by cameras.
The measure approved by the House today would close that loophole.
"The will of the House shows we are still adamantly opposed to the use of red light cameras," said Rep. Gary Elkins, R-Houston, sponsor of the bill.
If the city really wants to address red light runners, lengthening light">yellow light times is the way to go.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light camera bill"> 02/24/05 01:22 PM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (3)
27 February 2006
Nestor to contest red light camera contract this week
A couple of weeks ago, we posted about a red light camera company's plan to contest the city's contract with American Traffic Solutions Inc. (ATS). Today the Chronicle's Alexis Grant (with an assist from Matt Stiles) explores that topic with some interesting tidbits. First:
The Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee likely will hear not only from the Houston Police Department, which recommended Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions Inc. for the project, but also from a representative of Nestor Traffic Systems Inc., which failed to win the recommendation.
ATS Inc. is Arizona-based. Hmmmm. Arizona rings a bell, doesn't it?
Now, here's the really interesting piece of information:
One of Keller's criticisms of ATS is that its system does not use collision-avoidance technology, which keeps opposing lights red to prevent other traffic from entering and intersection when the system detects an imminent violation. The systems predict violations by calculating the speed and distance of approaching vehicles.
Montalvo said city traffic engineers recommended the technology not be used because it interferes with the synchronization of traffic lights and puts the camera company in control of light cycles instead of the city.
As long as the camera company doesn't control light">yellow-light times, the collision-avoidance technology sounds pretty good. Of course, some of us already have our suspicions about the city's light">yellow-light times.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light camera contract this week"> 02/27/06 06:53 PM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (2)
24 February 2005
Councilwoman has a question; blogHOUSTON has an answer
On a KTRH-740 newsbreak this morning, I heard Councilwoman Carol Alvarado complaining about the state Legislature stepping in to close the loophole that would allow Houston to install red light cameras. She wanted to know what the state would suggest Houston do to prevent red light runners.
Well, we can help with that. If Houston wants to reduce the number of red light running motorists, it should lengthen light">yellow light times.
blogHOUSTON is happy to provide this PSA (public service answer) at no charge to Councilwoman Alvarado.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/24/05 10:21 AM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (2)
05 February 2007
The City of Houston thanks you for your (ticket payment) support
A majority of red light runners ARE paying their tickets:
Nearly two-thirds of drivers cited for running red lights during the first three months of the city's camera-monitoring program have paid the $75 fine, according to new Houston Police Department data.
The figure is higher — and police say more precise — than previous reports because it includes more payments delayed until near or after a 45-day deadline.
"It's a more accurate reflection," said Sgt. Michael Muench, who oversees the program.
What's funny about the story is that when the Chronicle previously reported payment rates, it had to do so through an open-records request. Apparently the Chron's last story lit a fire under MayorWhiteChiefHurtt and HPD released the updated figures all on their own:
Previous data, obtained by the Houston Chronicle through an open-records request, showed about a quarter of violators paid through the end of December. Police predicted then that the final percentage would be higher.
The Houston Police Department released the new data, which adds payments made in January, after a Chronicle story reported the less favorable statistics.
More than 70 percent of violators caught on tape in September and October, the first two months of the program, had paid the fine by the end of January, according to HPD.
And how much money has the city earned?
Statistics for September and October, which police consider the most complete because those violators have had the longest time to pay, show almost 2,000 violators paid the $75 ticket. That brought nearly $150,000 to the city.
The city paid about $90,000 of that to American Traffic Solutions Inc., which operates the system, police spokesman John Cannon said.
Jim Tuton, that company's CEO, has said he expected the collection rate to be as high as 90 percent, based on collections in other cities.
And dismissals?
About 40 percent of contested tickets were dismissed. The reasons varied, Muench said, but included instances in which partly obscured license plates were photographed and the citation was mailed to the wrong vehicle owner.
There's another statistic I'd like to see: How many of the tickets issued were for people who entered the intersection in the first second after the light turned red? Studies show that about 80% of red light runners do so in the first second. That tells us that adding a second or two of light">yellow would seriously decrease red light running, as other studies have proved. And historically, cities have decreased light">yellow light times, creating light">yellow light dilemma zones where motorists have a split second to decide whether or not to stop.
But Mayor White doesn't want light">yellow light times increased, because he says that would reduce mobility. But if the primary concern is safety (as he keeps saying), then safety should trump mobility.
RELATED: Grits for Breakfast red light camera archives (Scott Henson)
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/05/07 05:50 AM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (1)
04 August 2007
Let's see a report on the light">yellow light times at these intersections
On the Chron's City Hall blog, Matt Stiles posts the latest information on the city's red light cameras:
The department has issued 89,000 citations, and about 57 percent of the cited motorists have paid. This rate, however, is skewed by the fact that motorists have about three months to pay. The payment rate from the earliest months of the program is much higher. Seventy-four percent of those cited in October have paid, for example.
There have been an average of 442 citations issued per day.
The busiest intersection is West Road at the North Freeway (1,066 citations, on average, per month). The slowest is North Shepherd at the North Loop (19 citations, on average, per month).
It could be true that the cameras (and publicity about them) have achieved the "behavior modifications" Executive Assistant Chief Martha Montalvo wants. Monthly citations have declined from a height of 15,293 in April, when only 40 intersections were monitored, to 14,201 in May and 13,512 in June. All 50 cameras were operating during those two months, of course, so the decline is even more significant. We'll see whether this trend continues.
It still boggles my mind that Council didn't force the city to make sure all these intersections were functioning properly; specifically, that lights were timed properly and intersections were well-engineered. Recall that Chron columnist Lisa Falkenberg caught herself running red lights because of downtown's "synchronized" traffic signals. Also recall that, back when red light cameras were being debated, Mayor White balked at the suggestion of increasing light">yellow light times because he thought that would reduce mobility.
The behavior modification should have begun with city and HPD officials and how they opted for the most punishing "solution" to the problem of red-light running, a problem that might well have its roots in how the city manages its intersections.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light">yellow light times at these intersections"> 08/04/07 07:48 AM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (0)
04 February 2005
HPD is doing its part to make some money for the city
Is HPD helping generate some revenue for the city? This KHOU-11 story sure makes it appear that way:
Dozens of Houston police officers have contacted 11 News wanting you to know about a new policy they say will hinder their ability to fight crime.
They say the "productivity policy" will force them to bypass calls for help from criminal victims so they can write traffic tickets.
[snip]
Executive Assistant Chief Tim Oettmeir admits the department is close to releasing a productivity standard that he says will be fair but tough. He says if an officer is found to be consistently non-productive, he or she could lose their ability to work extra jobs. Oettmeir says the goal is to make the department more efficient.
But officers believe this is only a money grab -- nothing else.
"If I put a guy in jail for aggravated robbery, the city makes no money for that," said the officer. "If I write a ticket for a seatbelt or inspection sticker, the city makes money off of that.
11 News has obtained documents which show officers' productivity will be based on a point system.
If an officer spends their shift investigating a home invasion, a missing juvenile, an assault and makes an arrest, he might be awarded seven points.
But if the same officer spends all of his time on two traffic stops, his productivity could soar to 15 depending on the number of violations found.
"You're not going to sell me the idea you're trying to make people safe. You're basically telling me you need money," said the officer.
A productivity policy that values writing a speeding ticket over investigating a home invasion or finding a missing child is just bizarre.
Which leads to another story on KHOU last night, this one about radar cameras. (This story isn't posted yet on KHOU; when it is I will add the link) Councilman Michael Berry was on Chris Baker's show Wednesday and he downplayed the idea of installing cameras to issue speeding tickets. On last night's KHOU story, it was made clear that the person who wants those cameras is...Chief Harold Hurtt, who is presumably still unable to wear an HPD uniform.
KHOU's story also talked about red light cameras and pointed out that a study done in San Diego had shown that if you lengthen the light">yellow light, red light violations decrease dramatically.
Here is an informative look at the "crisis" of red light running. One interesting note is that red light violations have increased as cities have shortened light">yellow light times, especially at intersections that have red light cameras.
Chief Hurtt's spokesperson wasn't buying the light">yellow-light-lengthening idea, and she made it clear that the city wants red light cameras. KHOU (I believe the reporter was Dan Lauck) pointed out that lengthening light">yellow light times would cost the city nothing to implement. But it won't generate any revenue, either.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 02/04/05 07:44 AM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (5)
11 June 2008
Councilman Rodriguez wants 200 more red light cameras!
Houston's elected officials continue finding ways to make the city more inviting.
I wonder if Councilman Rodriguez has considered checking out the engineering at all 200 intersections. Well, actually, I don't wonder at all, because he admits it's about generating revenue:
According to the amendment, Rodriguez wants to use the extra revenue for police "public safety programs including, but not limited to the recruitment of new officers to ensure safer neighborhoods."
If it were about safety (which it never really is -- wink, wink), all engineering issues would be addressed at proposed intersections, and light">yellow-light times would be increased. But those actions don't generate revenue.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light cameras!"> 06/11/08 07:01 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (3)
10 July 2005
Third time isn't a charm to kill red light cameras
Rick Casey spotted something in the Texas House tax reform bill:
The tax bill has tucked in it, and noticed by virtually no one, a measure that would kill Mayor Bill White's proposal to install cameras to catch red-light scofflaws at the city's most dangerous intersections.
How would a revenue bill kill the city's red-light camera initiative? Through starvation.
Inserted by Rep. Gary Elkins, R-Houston, the amendment would assign all the revenue from red-light camera citations to the state's general fund, except for $1 per citation for the cities.
[snip]
"It kills it," said one city official flatly. The city's official stance is that the program is to save lives, not make money. But in today's tight budgetary times, they don't want to take funds from other programs to pay for it.
Elkins admits his amendment is intended to kill the program and makes no apology.
"If it's such a good, effective program for public safety, they should be willing to spend the money," he said.
[snip]
City officials don't expect this attempt to succeed, either. And even Elkins doesn't sound optimistic.
Darn.
Of course Rep. Elkins is correct -- if it was truly about safety, the city should be willing to pay for any costs. But then again, if it was truly about safety, Mayor White would have looked at light">yellow light times first, like he promised city council.
But, as we all know, red light cameras have nothing to do with safety.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light cameras"> 07/10/05 10:14 AM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (2)
08 June 2006
Here are the first red light camera intersections!
KTRK-13's Jeff Ehling gives us a heads up on the first intersections to receive red light cameras:
The first group of ten red light cameras used to monitor red light running will be installed at the following intersections:
Bay Area Blvd. @ El Camino Real
Bellaire @ Fondren
Bellaire @ Wilcrest
Bingle @ Pinemont
Elgin @ Milam
Hillcroft @ Harwin
Hillcroft @ Westpark
John F. Kennedy @ Greens Rd.
Richmond @ Dunvale
Travis @ Webster.
Installation is scheduled to begin within the next 2 * 3 weeks. These sites were selected based on the number of crashes that occurred at the intersection and number of crashes that occurred at the intersections where red light running was a contributing factor.
It is anticipated that, American Traffic Solutions (ATS) will install and have these first ten cameras operational by mid July 2006. The others will be placed in groups of 10 approximately every 30-45 days. ATS is also creating a media public awareness campaign designed to inform motorist and the general public about the Red Light Camera system that will last 30 days. No citations will be issued during this period.
One would hope (okay, I would hope) that someone or some media outlet will take a stopwatch to see if the light">yellow light times at these intersections are set for the federally-recommended minimum length of time, and then make sure the city doesn't shorten the light">yellow light times as we move on in this program. It's been known to happen!
And then there's this:
The red light camera sites have been, and will continue to be, determined from statistical analysis of crash data by a committee consisting of representatives from the Houston Galveston Area Council, Rice University, as well as the HPD Traffic Division.
Houston bicyclist Bob Stein is from Rice University. I wonder if he's a member of the statistical analysis committee??? (As a refresher, Stein has an aversion to cars, helped come up with the original Safeclear program, is a parking authority expert, and is the husband of Mayor White's agenda director.)
RELATED: Chronicle
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light camera intersections!"> 06/08/06 08:25 AM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (12)
13 May 2005
Houstonians think Mayor White has the greatest ideas!
Kristen Mack writes that Mayor White has commissioned a poll and the results, amazingly, show that Houstonians LOVE his ideas:
With less than 20 days left in the legislative session, Mayor Bill White has released a poll favorable to his positions on some of the key city issues before lawmakers.
The survey wasn't scientific, and the questions seem designed to evoke preferred responses — a technique called "push polling" in political parlance.
[snip]
The results showed overwhelming support for the city's position on regulating wrecker drivers, using cameras to catch red light violators and closing down after-hours clubs.
That's not surprising, given the questions, which were listed under the heading "Protecting our neighborhoods:"
•"Should the state give Houston the power to refuse towing licenses to people based on their criminal and driving records, as we do on highways?"
•"Should the state allow Houston to install cameras in traffic lights to catch people running red lights, so we can use our police to stop other crimes?"
•"Should the state allow our neighborhoods to protect themselves by closing bars in their areas at 2 a.m.?"
Mayor White is very good at the PR game, as we all know. His one big misstep so far was SAFEclear and he managed to turn that into a positive, although he got a little banged up along the way.
The red light question, though, is really something. For the 1,000th time, if the mayor was serious about safety, he would make sure the worst intersections have longer light">yellow light times AND a period of a couple of seconds where all lights in an intersection are red at the same time.
But adjusting traffic light times won't bring in revenue.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 05/13/05 10:57 AM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (1)
22 May 2005
Exposing the "safety" myth of red light cameras
Since it appears Houstonians will now face two different standards for red light offenses (criminal, if written up by a police officer; civil, if caught on camera) let's look back at the City Council minutes from last December when Council debated the issue. What I find especially noteworthy is that in public comments several people suggested lengthening light">yellow light times, and several councilmembers appeared to be interested in the idea, even asking city officials (Mayor White included) if it had been studied. The disappointing response from one city official follows: (pdf, page 7):
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light cameras"> 05/22/05 08:37 PM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (9)
13 June 2005
Watch your rear -- red light cameras are coming
Last night KHOU-11's lead 10 p.m. story was about red light cameras coming to Houston -- soon.
And today Matt Stiles has a story in the Chronicle about the revenue-generating, uh...safety cameras:
"They are going up, you bet," said Mayor Bill White, during a recent news conference. "Every time that somebody is killed or seriously injured in an intersectional collision, where somebody was speeding through a red light, I and council members take that as a personal responsibility."
The timetable isn't certain for setting up the cameras, which the City Council approved in December. The goal is to have some working by the end of the year, city officials said.
What will Mayor White say the first time someone is killed in a rear-end collision due to a red light camera? He could have tried lengthening light">yellow light times, but dismissed that proven option. Councilwoman Addie Wiseman is quoted in the story as saying she wished the city would have studied light">yellow light times.
KHOU's story last night said the city will begin receiving bids within the next 30 days, to be followed up by test cameras at several intersections.
The citations would be civil documents technically issued against a car's owner rather than its driver, and would carry lower penalties than tickets written by officers who witness infractions.
The camera fine likely would be $50 to $75, compared with the criminal penalty of $215.
It's not hard to predict that city officials will raise those ticket prices down the road -- you know, in the name of safety. And, of course, the mayor will eventually proclaim the cameras a tremendous success (providing little statistical backup, à la SAFEClear), and say that Houston needs cameras at MORE intersections. That's what is going on in Washington, D.C.
The city — which might give the vendor a cut of ticket revenue to save money on the installation — also is exploring the option of setting up decoy cameras in some places to serve as deterrents, officials said.
Even decoy cameras or signs have their drawbacks, as one town in Ohio recently discovered:
A truck spilled gallons of corn syrup yesterday at the intersection of Yankee Road and Verity in Middletown, Ohio after its driver, Todd Hellrigel, panic-braked after seeing a red light camera sign. He wanted to avoid being ticketed.
[snip]
The sudden stop popped open the seal on the top of the trailer causing 4,500 gallons of corn syrup to begin spilling on the road, which had no red light camera -- just the sign. It took most of the day to clear the sticky substance from the intersection. Police did not cite Hellrigel who said that he was not speeding.
RELATED: Getting Rear-Ended by the Law (The Weekly Standard)
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light cameras are coming"> 06/13/05 07:37 AM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (2)
29 September 2007
Aha! This is why Houston rushed installation of 20 more red light cameras
Remember when the city hurriedly installed 20 more red light cameras, even though the 50 that Council approved had already been installed? Suspicion was that this was to beat a new state law that imposed some limitations on the revenue-generating devices. Now we know how true that suspicion was. From TheNewspaper.com:
A little-noticed provision of Texas law took effect at the beginning of the month to force cities using red light cameras to appoint citizen oversight panels. The provision caused disruption in the city of Lubbock's red light camera plans yesterday.
According to Texas Transportation Code Section 707.003: "A local authority shall report results of the traffic engineering study required by Subsection (c) to a citizen advisory committee consisting of one person appointed by each member of the governing body of the local authority. The committee shall advise the local authority on the installation and operation of a photographic traffic signal enforcement system established under this chapter."
No camera installed after September 1 may issue a citation without this citizen's panel first reviewing a detailed engineering assessment that presents alternatives to photo ticketing. The Texas Transportation Institute, for example, found in 2005 that merely adding one second of light">yellow warning time at traffic signals beyond the minimum amount yielded a forty percent accident reduction (view report).
The wording of the law ensures that city council members who oppose the use of red light cameras have the right to appoint representatives to the oversight panel.
MayorWhiteChiefHurttMarthaMontalvo had to be concerned about their chances to add more cameras with this obstacle. You'll notice that Houstonians weren't allowed to vote on the red light camera program; it's not hard to guess it'd probably be voted down.
Let's recall what Asst. Chief Montalvo said when those 20 cameras were added at the last minute:
Montalvo said the decision to add the new cameras had nothing to do with a new state law, which takes effect Saturday, that could require some cities to do engineering studies at new locations.
Boy, that's ringing even more hollow now!
And then there's Matt Stiles' latest reporting on city-owned vehicles running red lights, including Houston police officers:
Houston police commanders say the city's red-light camera enforcement program should increase safety at intersections by prompting "behavior modifications" in motorists.
Not all of their own employees are getting the message, however.
More than 100 Houston police vehicles moving through intersections without emergency lights were cited in the first year of the cameras' operation, according to ticket data.
"We're just like regular citizens. We're only human," said Martha Montalvo, an executive assistant chief with the Houston Police Department who oversees the program.
"We're hoping for some behavior modifications from all angles, not only from our citizens but also from our city employees."
Back when it was just the general citizenry she thought needed behavior modification, Montalvo wasn't so forgiving.
She's got a bit more empathy going now: We're only human.
Maybe some longer light">yellow light times would help, Martha.
RELATED: Red-light cameras to city: You owe $16,425 (City Hall blog); HPD, METRO lead in red-light camera citations (City Hall blog)
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light cameras"> 09/29/07 04:06 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (14)
20 May 2006
Council to consider red light camera contract...again
On again, off again. On again, off again.
Now it's on again. Next week, City Council will address the red light camera contract MayorWhiteChiefHurtt want to give to ATS. A five year contract. Has anyone in a watchdog role seen the contract? How is it set up? Does ATS get a percentage of ticket revenue or is there a set fee? Who reviews the photos -- HPD or ATS? What happens when there is a dispute? Who's going to verify light">yellow-light times to see that intersections getting the cameras have sufficient time now and that they will not be shortened further into the program (to generate more revenue)?
The issue has been contentious, with White and other city officials saying the cameras would increase safety and reduce accidents. Critics contend they are intended mostly to generate revenue, and may increase rear-end collisions.
[snip]
The plan — which officials project could bring in $6.5 million in its first year — almost certainly will be delayed in a procedural move when the council hears it Wednesday.
If Mayor White wants to prove these cameras are all about safety and not revenue, he should send all the money generated by photo tickets to public schools or charity.
But that'll never happen.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light camera contract...again"> 05/20/06 08:31 PM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (1)
29 August 2007
Houston hurries to add more red light cameras before new law takes effect
With little fanfare, the city is adding 20 more red light cameras, possibly to beat a deadline, even though the city has already installed the 50 cameras it said would be initially installed (via the Chronicle's Matt Stiles):
Houston police quietly have moved to install new red-light cameras at 20 intersections already monitored by the system, allowing citations for motorists traveling in the opposite direction, officials confirmed Tuesday.
The 20 new cameras are expected to start working Friday. Motorists caught by the new cameras would be issued warnings during a month-long grace period ending in October, police said.
The move to add more cameras, which had not been publicly disclosed, appears to conflict with the terms of a contract the City Council approved in 2006 with American Traffic Solutions Inc., the private company that installs and monitors the cameras.
That agreement includes payment arrangements with the company for a total of 50 intersection "approaches," or cameras monitoring specific directions at a location.
But department officials said Tuesday that they long had planned to increase the number of cameras at some locations, and they denied the contract limited that total to 50 intersections.
"These are different approaches at those same intersections," said Executive Assistant Chief Martha Montalvo, who supervises the program.
And now, let's highlight some fine Martha Montalvo quotes:
Montalvo said the decision to add the new cameras had nothing to do with a new state law, which takes effect Saturday, that could require some cities to do engineering studies at new locations.
Of course not!
She also dismissed a common complaint that the new cameras were intended to generate more revenue, even as the new law requires that a portion of the fines go to a regional trauma center fund.
"This is not about revenue," she said. "This is about changing the behavior and public safety."
Of course not!
Montalvo said late Tuesday that she was not aware of any briefings to council members about the new cameras.
Of course not!
But she said Police Chief Harold Hurtt had planned to make an announcement later this week.
Before he leaves town for the weekend?
Montalvo has in the past said expanding to more sites was possible, but only after the department hired someone to study the effectiveness of the current cameras at reducing crashes.
Montalvo said Tuesday she had not arranged for such a study, but that one was still planned.
Sure.
We know it's about revenue. The city needs to recoup some of the money it'll be losing thanks to the new state law. If it was about safety and changing behavior, the city would have lengthened light">yellow light times.
It'd be fun to put red light cameras to a vote -- not before Council, but before the citizens of Houston.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light cameras before new law takes effect"> 08/29/07 05:21 AM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (2)
14 May 2007
City continues to harass driver cleared of red light ticket violation
Local media is reporting that ten more red light cameras are in place. Here's the list, courtesy of Matt Stiles' City Hall blog:
* NB South Wayside at Gulf Freeway
* NB Woodridge @ Gulf Freeway
* WB West Bellfort Avenue @ Southwest Freeway
* NB Fairbanks N. Houston @ Northwest Freeway
* NB West Sam Houston Parkway South @ Westpark Drive
* EB F.M. 2351 @ Gulf Freeway
* EB South Post Oak Boulevard @ West Loop South
* NB Northwest Freeway @ Mangum Road
* WB South Sam Houston Parkway East @ Telephone Road
* SB Stella Link Road @ South Loop West
And HPD's official statement is:
"Our priority is to promote the safety and welfare of the citizens of Houston," said HPD Sgt. Michael Muench. The ultimate goal of the program is to change driver behavior by increasing driver awareness and discouraging dangerous driving and red light running."
No, if the ultimate goal had been to change driver behavior and discourage dangerous driving, the city would have lengthened light">yellow light times in addition to other intersection modifications, before resorting to a revenue-generating program that assumes drivers are guilty.
Speaking of assuming drivers are guilty, KPRC-2 Investigates recently looked into the problem of red light camera mis-identification. Stephen Dean talked with a local resident who received a ticket, but the vehicle in the photo didn't come close to matching his vehicle. The problem? A one letter difference in the license plate.
The driver who received the notice then had to take a day off from work, spend it at court, and convince a judge that it wasn't his car on the ticket. The judge agreed and wrote "not liable" on the violation notice, but that hasn't stopped the city from sending demand notices to the wrongly-ticketed driver. He is still battling the city.
According to KPRC's report, 150 tickets have been challenged and 30 have been dismissed. That low number of dismissals is proof, according to HPD Sgt. Michael Muench, that the program is successful.
Another way to look at it is that 30 people were wrongly ticketed, and had to take time out of their lives to prove it. And from the sound of Dean's report, that still doesn't stop the city from harassing those folks whom a judge has cleared.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light ticket violation"> 05/14/07 07:28 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (6)
28 January 2005
Do red light cameras reduce accidents or generate revenue?
Recently, Mayor Bill White convinced City Council to approve red light traffic cameras, ostensibly to improve safety. However, some of us think it's more likely a new way to generate revenue, kind of like $AFEclear.
With that in mind, here are the results of a study performed by the Commonwealth of Virginia's Department of Transportation that shows injury accidents actually increased at intersections where red light cameras were installed:
Despite a distinct sympathy in favor of camera enforcement, the researchers found a "definite" increase in rear-end accidents and only a "possible" decrease in angle accidents. Most importantly, the net effect was that more injuries happened after cameras are installed. Camera proponents explain this away by asserting angle accidents are more serious, but this claim has not been scientifically studied according to this report. The rear end collisions caused by the cameras still produce injuries -- the original promise of camera proponents was that they would reduce accidents and injuries, not rearrange them.
This study agrees with long-term findings in Australia and North Carolina.
If this were truly about safety, the city might try to lengthen light">yellow light times first, to see if that helps reduce red light violations. Or how about the idea of programming the lights so all lights in an intersection stay red for one to two seconds? Or take some police officers off $AFEclear taxi duty and have them monitor the worst intersections? But, those ideas won't generate revenue.
Also on the subject of red light cameras, a Houston attorney writes that large municipalities are turning traffic tickets into civil cases, which he says is a revenue-generator:
A more recent example is the City of Houston's aggressive attempt to decriminalize red light tickets. Running a red light under Texas State law is a Class C Misdemeanor, a criminal offense. As such, it carries all the protections due an accused in a criminal case. In what many consider an unconstitutional move, the City of Houston passed an ordinance on December 21, 2004 to decriminalize some red light tickets at intersections where the City of Houston will be installing cameras to monitor traffic. The City of Houston, a political subdivision of the State of Texas, has usurped the power of the Texas State Legislature and changed running a red light from a criminal violation to a civil violation.
There will be two different standards in Houston for the same offense. Those accused of running a red light at an intersection without a camera will be charged criminally and those accused of running a red light at an intersection with a camera will be cited civilly. Under Houston's ordinance, the owner of a car cited with running a red light at an intersection monitored by a camera will be presumed guilty and owe a fine of $75 ($150 for a third or subsequent violations). To fight these tickets, the owner of the car will now have to go before an administrative hearing officer, not a judge or jury, and prove that he or she did not run the red light.
That's pretty enlightening, I think.
Mayor White is a shrewd guy. He knows that people are fed up with new taxes, so he masks these revenue-generating ideas in the guise of safety. Some members of the Texas Legislature have promised to deal with Houston's red light camera ordinance so maybe the mayor will get the chance to try out some of those alternative solutions really to reduce the number of red light runners in a safe manner.
KEVIN WHITED (SNARKILY) ADDS: I get the idea Anne purposely avoided using that term favored by those who like to expand government, "new revenue stream." Between the expanded downtown parking meters, red light cameras, and SAFEclear wrecker-oligopoly franchise fees, Mayor White has indeed created "new revenue streams."
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light cameras reduce accidents or generate revenue?"> 01/28/05 08:35 AM | Houston Politics | Technorati | Comments (8)
26 June 2006
The champagne corks are a-poppin' at HPD headquarters
Because Texas AG Greg Abbott passed down an opinion that said red light cameras could be placed at TxDOT intersections:
"Now we can truly impact safety, because now we're going to be using the (more dangerous) locations instead of having to work around" them, said Houston Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Martha Montalvo.
Of course, if Montalvo was truly interested in safety, she would have pressed for light">yellow light times to have been adjusted. But she doesn't see the "logic" in that.
About half of the most dangerous intersections in the city belong to TxDOT, Montalvo said. Those locations can now be monitored by cameras intended to catch drivers who run red lights, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said in an opinion issued late Friday.
"(TxDOT) may permit local entities to install camera equipment to monitor compliance with traffic-control signals for the purpose of enforcing traffic laws," Abbott's opinion reads.
HPD is so excited, they are trashing the original list of intersections that was released just a couple of weeks ago:
HPD likely will scrap the list of 10 sites it released earlier this month as the first camera locations and come up with a new one that includes TxDOT intersections, Montalvo said. That new list could be released as soon as this afternoon, she said.
There's revenue to be generated! The camera company, ATS, is being very flexible:
The company contracted to run the system, American Traffic Solutions Inc., already has begun planning the installation of cameras at the 10 intersections announced by HPD earlier this month, said CEO Jim Tuton. But the company was aware the locations could change, and Tuton still expects installation to begin in July as previously planned, he said.
Tuton called the opinion a "milestone in traffic safety in Texas."
"It has a huge impact in terms of the enforcement potential and the safety potential," he said. "It's very hard to implement technology and leverage it effectively unless you can implement it across the entire city."
Not to mention the revenue potential! It's hard to get maximum revenues unless ATS and HPD can implement the program across the entire city.
Wouldn't it be refreshing if MayorWhiteChiefHurtt would just admit it's all about the money?
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 06/26/06 09:19 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (1)
04 January 2009
Taking apart Mayor White's spinning of red-light-camera study
There have been several follow-ups to Bradley Olson's story on the findings of Houston's long overdue red-light-camera study.
TheNewspaper.com came up with a couple of interesting points after looking the data:
The Rice-TTI study compared 24 months of pre-installation data to between 13 and 21 months of post-installation data for each of the five groups. According to TheNewspaper's analysis of overall accident data found in the appendices, the average number of monthly collisions went from an average of 15.4 collisions per month in the two years prior to camera enforcement to 58.3 accidents per month in the post-installation period. Although this figure is not reported in the study itself, the general fact is briefly acknowledged.
"The absolute number of collisions at camera-monitored intersection approaches is not decreasing," the study admitted.
To achieve the appearance of success, the study divided red light camera intersections into "non-monitored" approaches -- the directions of travel at the intersection where the red light camera is not looking -- and the "monitored" approaches where ticketing took place. There was a 132 percent increase in collisions at the non-monitored approaches of the intersection where red light cameras were installed and a non-significant 9 percent increase at the monitored approaches. The study treated these increases in both rear end and T-bone collisions as unrelated to the red light camera as long as the accident happened outside of the camera's view.
The study concluded that because the accidents went up at the non-monitored approaches of red light camera intersections, but effectively stayed the same at the monitored approaches, that the red light cameras were responsible for the "benefit" (a smaller increase) at one part of the red light camera intersection, but not the increase in acccidents at the other. This line of thought would suggest that the increased accidents at the non-monitored approaches of red light camera intersections reflected an increase in accidents at the other city intersections that had no red light cameras at all. The study admits this implication is untrue.
The second point: The data from the Houston study is at odds with the data from the statewide red-light-camera study that purported to show red-light cameras reduced accidents:
Increases in Houston collisions documented by Rice-TTI mysteriously became decreases in collisions in the TxDOT-TTI report, as follows:
Monroe at Gulf Freeway East Service Road: a 913% increase became a 41.7% decrease
Hollister at Northwest Freeway: a 747% increase became a 60.5% decrease
FM1960 West at Tomball Parkway: a 307% increase became a 44% decrease
Richmond at Dunvale: a 103% increase became no change
South Sam Houston Freeway at Telephone Road: a 164% increase became a 19.3% decrease
East Freeway North Service Road at Normandy: a 52% increase became a 25% decrease
North Freeway West Service Road at West Rankin Road: a 18% increase became a 32.7% decrease
Then Bradley Olson posted a follow-up story on Chron.com suggesting the Houston study was flawed, which prompted Scott Henson, who blogs at Grits for Breakfast, to express his skepticism:
While not long ago, the Chronicle touted the results of a much less rigorous study uncritically, in this case, where the results do not support red light cameras, the whole story was centered around claiming the research methodology was flawed. Writes Bradley Olson:
Because red-light cameras are known to have a spillover effect — meaning that they have been shown to impact the number of accidents at intersections where there are no cameras — robust examinations of camera programs always compare crash data with that in other cities.
It's what statisticians call a control group. Unless the study authors compare crashes at the 50 intersections where red-light cameras have been installed with other intersections in which they have not been — preferably in other cities — no conclusions can be drawn from it.
This is utter gobbledy gook, not a legitimate statistical analysis! Red light cameras create their OWN control group when researchers monitor accidents at the intersection BEFORE and AFTER enforcement begins.
That was the flaw I identified in the Texas Department of Transportation study published in December - in the vast majority of intersections they studied, data was not gathered before cameras were installed to compare them. In the Houston study, they had that data going back several years, so IMO the results are actually much more robust and probative than TXDOT's.
[snip]
The reporter also claims, bizarrely, that, "At a ratio of 10 to 1, study after study on the effect of red-light cameras ... have found that they drastically reduce crashes." That's simply false on its face, which further leads me to think Olson's sources were feeding him a line of bull. As I wrote in reaction to the TXDOT study:
in Lubbock red light cameras were discontinued after accidents overall increased 52% at intersections with cameras. Similarly, the state of Virginia eliminated their use after studies in every city using the devices found the number of accidents increased. In other jurisdictions, studies have found reductions in right-angle accidents but nearly equal increases in rear-end collisions, including in injury accidents.
The Houston figures jibe closely with those results, so I don't see why Olson or Mayor White are so surprised that accidents increased in Houston, too. That's what happens when officials prioritize revenue generation over public safety.
And finally, a letter in today's Chronicle, points out that most red-light-camera violations occur in the first two seconds after the light has turned red:
These are not very likely to be the ones that cause serious accidents, but they certainly are the source of a huge amount of revenue being raised by the city. Heavily penalizing these early violations does almost nothing to reduce the accident rate because most red-light-running accidents are caused by drivers who are oblivious to the red light. They run the light much later than two seconds into the red, and they are usually impaired or oblivious to the danger they face.
And a California study showed that three-fourths of all red-light-camera violations occurred in the first second after a light turned red.
The point?
Lengthening light">yellow light times will do more to reduce red light running and accidents than cameras ever will.
Posted by Anne Linehan @ light-camera study"> 01/04/09 03:32 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (2)
10 August 2008
Chron offers underrepresented view on METRO service; METRO complains
Several days ago, the Chronicle ran a surprising article by Leslie Casimir on the challenges faced by some named commuters who do not have cars, and who must rely upon METRO to get to/from various points that do not always include downtown or the Medical Center.
Various complaints raised by real METRO customers in the story include:
* Slow commute times (10 minute drives by private car can take 2 hours using METRO)
* Lack of service outside the loop
* Multiple transfers
* "Service improvements" that mean discontinuation of bus routes crucial to some customers
None of these complaints will be new to blogHOUSTON readers, as we have regularly questioned METRO's increasing focus on expensive light rail in our spread-out, low-density city, as well as its focus on inner-loop real-estate development -- and whether there are enough resources to build the sorts of world-class trinkets favored by comparatively affluent activists/bloggers and people in the industry while still serving the transportation needs of less affluent people spread all over the city who rely on transit to get to work and the doctor and the grocery store and elsewhere, and can't just hop in the minivan to pick up some veggies from the Discovery Green farmer's market when the whim strikes on any given Saturday.
Generally, however, that perspective is NOT one that we see in Rad Sallee's stories, or that we generally have seen from many of his colleagues at the Chronicle, who have generally been cheerleaders for expensive light rail that may not be in the best interests of many people who rely upon METRO. So the Chronicle deserves credit for finally presenting the perspective of real users of METRO that have long been underrepresented in Chron transit stories.
Interestingly, METRO media relations official Raequel Roberts is not at all pleased at this underrepresented perspective getting the play it did this one time in the newspaper. Her letter to the editor is reproduced below the [Read More] link (since it may disappear). If the Chronicle hadn't been a METRO cheerleader for so long, Roberts' concerns about balance might resonate more. However, given the frequency with which the Chronicle uncritically reports on METRO -- almost sounding as if Ms. Roberts is providing the copy -- and the fact that one rarely hears from everyday users of METRO and their problems with the service -- it's harder to take Ms. Roberts complaints about balance seriously. In a sense, Casimir's story is some needed, and overdue, balance.
Around the local blogosphere, Cory Crow has posted some sensible thoughts on METRO's core mission failures, Tory Gattis questions whether Houston has its transit priorities in order, and Neal Meyer suggests that jitneys could be one solution to some of our transit woes (if they were not so heavily regulated -- good luck getting light">Yellow Cab, er, Council to ease up on that). Please feel free to add your thoughts to the discussion.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/10/08 10:22 PM | Houston Transit | Technorati | Comments (12)
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