Comments on: Giving up http://www.saysuncle.com/2008/04/16/giving-up/ Remember, I do this to entertain me... not you. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:33:21 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: bob r http://www.saysuncle.com/2008/04/16/giving-up/comment-page-1/#comment-198936 bob r Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:42:40 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/?p=15364#comment-198936 The way these cameras are used is sad but even worse is that it is possible to use them to <i>enhance</i> the proper purpose of the traffic lights: safe and convenient sharing of the intersection. With the cameras it is possible to determine if the intersection is clear and to use that information to determine when cross traffic should be given the "proceed with caution" signal (i.e., green light). The only time _any_ "red light" tickets should be issued is if the light has been red and the intersection has been clear for a period of time sufficient that anyone paying attention would know to, and have time to, stop; even then the control system could put up a "stop" signal to the cross traffic in the interest of preventing accidents. With this type of control system the emphasis changes from punishment to safety. The government might not get as much revenue, but the public would get more value for their money and the <i>public</i> at large would save money due to reduced accidents. I suspect the antipathy most feel towards the cameras would be considerably reduced also; I know I <b>hate</b> the damn things but wouldn't mind them if they were just part of the intersection sharing system. Instead they seem to be part of a system to put you under someone's thumb. The way these cameras are used is sad but even worse is that it is possible to use them to enhance the proper purpose of the traffic lights: safe and convenient sharing of the intersection. With the cameras it is possible to determine if the intersection is clear and to use that information to determine when cross traffic should be given the “proceed with caution” signal (i.e., green light). The only time _any_ “red light” tickets should be issued is if the light has been red and the intersection has been clear for a period of time sufficient that anyone paying attention would know to, and have time to, stop; even then the control system could put up a “stop” signal to the cross traffic in the interest of preventing accidents.

With this type of control system the emphasis changes from punishment to safety. The government might not get as much revenue, but the public would get more value for their money and the public at large would save money due to reduced accidents. I suspect the antipathy most feel towards the cameras would be considerably reduced also; I know I hate the damn things but wouldn’t mind them if they were just part of the intersection sharing system. Instead they seem to be part of a system to put you under someone’s thumb.

]]> By: Billy Beck http://www.saysuncle.com/2008/04/16/giving-up/comment-page-1/#comment-198915 Billy Beck Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:53:01 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/?p=15364#comment-198915 The state waxes, and the citizen wanes. The state waxes, and the citizen wanes.

]]> By: retro http://www.saysuncle.com/2008/04/16/giving-up/comment-page-1/#comment-198905 retro Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:36:14 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/?p=15364#comment-198905 I guess this is just one more advantage to living in Small-town, America. We don't even have a single traffic signal, let alone robo-cops. I guess this is just one more advantage to living in Small-town, America. We don’t even have a single traffic signal, let alone robo-cops.

]]> By: DirtCrashr http://www.saysuncle.com/2008/04/16/giving-up/comment-page-1/#comment-198900 DirtCrashr Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:48:43 +0000 http://www.saysuncle.com/?p=15364#comment-198900 We must stop the robot invasion! :-) We must stop the robot invasion! :-)

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