Crashes have declined at Johnson City intersections with red light traffic safety cameras, but will those cameras be here in a few more years?
Staff Writer Gary B. Gray delved into all the numbers, statistics and figures surrounding the red light cameras first installed at intersections in Johnson City back in 2010. There are six such cameras now.
“We still are seeing some red light violations contributing to angle crashes, and we’re also seeing a lot of failures to yield,” Johnson City Police Chief Mark Sirois said. “We’ve seen people legally in the intersection but failing to yield to other people. There are also a lot of things going on. You have to judge your speed, pay attention to pedestrians — but rear-end crashes have gone down a bit, and I’m happy to see that. Part of that may have been getting the word out about these types of crashes and that folks are using more caution.”
Read Gray's story to find out specifics on the deal Johnson City signed with Arizona-based red light camera company Redflex Traffic Systems, including how a contract would be renewed and if such discussions are occurring.
Gray also breaks down the crashes reported at all six intersections.
What are other Tennessee cities doing about traffic cameras? Gray provides those answers, too.
Check out Gray's story, which starts on the front page of the Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, edition of the Johnson City Press, for much more on this topic.
In a sidebar to the main story, Gray analyzed the revenue the city generates from red light cameras and discovered income has plummeted from the near half million dollars collected the first year. For specifics on these numbers and some thoughts on why revenue has declined be sure to check out this story, which appears on page 7A of the Sunday Jan. 20, 2013, edition of the Johnson City Press.
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HenryW writes:
January 20, 2013
1:30 PM
I guess the chief didn't get the memo from the camera company. The memo said that when reporting crash stats, the police must report a decrease of at least 40% (nationwide, 42% is the preferred number) and NEVER use terms such as the "decreased slightly" found here.
Police depictions of a slight or not statistically significant improvement could cause the cameras to be removed, and that removal could cost the local jobs processing and adjudicating the tickets.
Concerned_One96 writes:
January 20, 2013
3:15 PM
I guess those folks out in Arizona underestimated us Southern Boys - Of course we're going to find away around Big Bro and their fascist cameras! Did they really think that we were going to just mindlessly line their greedy pockets?
justmyopinion2012 writes:
January 21, 2013
9:56 AM
Unless I am mistaken Redflex's parent company is out of Australia or New Zealand, not Arizona. I wonder if the people responsible for approving the installation of these cameras think the cost of the equipment vs. the revenue generated was a good investment for the taxpayers?
arby2003 writes:
January 21, 2013
8:22 PM
I think the red light cameras should stay. In fact we need even more of them.
provided.