Red light cameras have a few detriments that debar it from being the substitute of reducing any threat in the transport system precisely at the road intersections where there are traffic light control systems. The system is such complicated and has a lot of slips and could lead to exposure of impending danger to the drivers. The policy of banning the use of red light cameras is recommendable and would reduce chances of causing more collision. It also expose the driver to fear of breaking the law hence he or she loses the concentration. Lose of concentration leads to unexpected accidents and hence the red light camera accelerates the same.
There are a number of instances that support the above stated argument one of them being the latest observations from the countries that already have started using the red light cameras in the name of reducing traffic collision at the point of intersection (Cau, 2011). Many citizens of these countries have exposed a few negative reactions toward this system of traffic control red light camera.
Most of the people being affected by this system are the commercial car drivers and white color job individuals who time to them means a whole lot of income generation. The authorities take these opportunities to levy the drivers heavy fines incase the driver mess up and intersect before the yellow light appears. It is noted that the duration between the red light and the yellow one is so short that makes it difficult for the drivers to control their speed and level of accuracy to avoid breaking the rule. The country and the authorities increase the amount to tax the traffic law breakers and hence this is seen by many as a means to generate income from the innocent citizens (Frisman, 2010). This was evidently observed when one of the leaders of the opposing parties in one of the countries using the red light camera system to curb the law breakers in the traffic sector precisely the points of intersection. One of the government opposition leader stated that the government was using the red light camera policy to exploit the citizens’ resources and thus considered it as a deception by all means.
The cameras have to be maintained and operated and this implies that municipal officers will levy heavy taxes to meet the expenses and maintenance costs of the cameras. It sounds weird and ironical to a common citizen indeed if he will be able to meet the demand of his family after being levied by the traffic law enforcer after the red light camera detects the offence committed (Retting et al., 1999). The security and safety of the road users is of intensified concern but openly red light cameras are not a solution to this common problem. There must be an alternative to this problem and therefore making safety policies a priority of the municipality is the best solution to this consistent problem that affects the entire transport system in the world.
The number of violation will reduce as a result of heavy charges charged against them, the reason behind it being the consequences of the same imposed law on drivers. Many drivers will try their best to evade any offensive action and this implies that with time the government will impose a change to all the citizens. The argument that installation of red light cameras saves life as evident in some of the united states cities was found to be a hundred and fifty nine cases where life has been saved, contrary an imposed strategy can be impacted to the citizens to be keen and observant when using the road and be extra careful at the intersections (Cau, 2011). The road users will get used to what is required of them and therefore there will be no need to apply the red light cameras which are expensive to buy and maintain.
According to a study conducted by “Virginia Transportation Research Council” in collaboration with the “U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration” published in June 2007, the report clearly accepts that it could not give the immediate answers to some questions which were frequently asked in their study of 2005 (Frisman, 2010). This clearly shows that the weaknesses of the red light cameras are so intense and therefore cannot be ignored in any way. The several questions asked suggest that red light cameras cannot be effective and reliable as thought by some of the persons in support of the same. In any report released that raises a lot of unanswered questions, it shows the weakness of the said topic of discussion.
In conclusion, the use of red light cameras should be abolished and banned in all countries to avert the negative side effects associated with the device. It is dangerous and risks the economic level of noble citizens who cannot afford the amount of tax levied against the felonies committed. Therefore totally disagree with the use of red light cameras.
Works Cited
Cau, Seng B. Use of Speed Cameras for Speeding and Red Light Violations: A Traffic Safety Tools Report. Regina?: 2001. Print.
Frisman, Paul. Red Light and Speed Cameras. Hartford: Connecticut General Assembly, Office of Legislative Research, 2010. Print.
Retting, Richard A., Allan F. Williams, Charles M. Farmer, and Amy F. Feldman. "Evaluation of red light camera enforcement in Oxnard, California." Accident Analysis and Prevention (1999). Print.
