Disqus - Latest Comments for road

Re: Red Light Running Still A Problem, police say

road — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:33:36 -0000

when you see really bad signal timing, you should call 311. they have a form and they notify traffic engineering. lots of things can throw the timing out of whack, from construction work to a pedestrian pushing the walk button.
i've talked to lots of traffic engineers since i started the road warrior column in 1995, and as a whole i have found they are really smart, nice people who have to drive the same roads we do and who have an untennable balancing act to perform -- because EVERYONE WANTS TO GO FIRST!
that said, don't let them off the hook for problems. if something's broken, call and make 'em fix it!
but to imply it's ok to run a red because you had to wait too long?! who are you and when do you drive so i can stay home?

Re: Red Light Running Still A Problem, police say

road — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:27:30 -0000

two other good sites are mcmahon and golf course and coors and irving. i have counted as many as 12 -- yes TWELVE -- cars turning left in front of me while i have the green.

Re: Red Light Running Still A Problem, police say

road — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:25:13 -0000

albuquerque's traffic engineering department monitors the signals and can adjust them, say, if there's a wreck and they need to divert traffic around it. money has been in the budget regularly to expand this program.
lots of people complain not only about the small street sign names, but the utter lack of street numbers so you can't figure out where the heck youare or where you're going.

Re: Red Light Running Still A Problem, police say

road — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:19:59 -0000

so far the stats show the cameras have REDUCED accidents at four intersections

you have to watch your speed and the signal colors no matter what. that's called careful driving.

you only get a ticket if you enter on RED. if you enter on yellow it's legal.

this is a program from the mayor's office. APD does review the tapes and run the speed vans, but they aren't running it.

and your "freedom" stops at hitting someone else in an intersection because you wanted to blow through at a high rate of speed.

Re: Accident Stats on Red Light Cameras

road — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:03:58 -0000

excellent point on gas prices -- but the state numbers show wrecks down since the program went live in 2005

and you're right about the program being mishandled from the start. from the lack of stats to the bad stats to the $7 million-plus surplus to the fight over cash in santa fe to the state unfairly taking money just for abq to other cities hooking up cameras to subsidize their police force, the way this was presented and handled makes you wonder if city government could roll out a rug, much less a controversial public safety program.

Re: Accident Stats on Red Light Cameras

road — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:58:32 -0000

several people have pointed out how the speed component was added after the fact -- and many people have no problem with the red-light portion of the program but really hate the speeding component. it's interesting that the bulk of the tickets are speeding -- that's where everyone predicted they would be and where the real money was before the legislature capped the fines and took everything above the operating costs.
unfortunately, this city study looked at crashes at the four intersections mentioned and did not break out speed from running the signal. it was simply refreshing to have ANY numbers after four and a half years.
it's good to know we have intelligent readers who question things -- and that this year the legislature will embrace transparency and accountability for programs. having written numerous editorials over the years advocating open conference committees, ethics reform, review of contracts and purchasing of computer systems that actually work, that would be a real plus. do you have a bill number we can follow?
returning to my sloppy journalism until then,

Re: Accident Stats on Red Light Cameras

road — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:42:41 -0000

those "streets are safer" assertions are coming from the number crunchers at the city's office of management and budget, and i tried to be very clear that the hard stats are for the four intersections they monitored -- i even had our web folks post them with this article so everyone could see for themselves.
fyi, as the article pointed out, there are around 550 signalized intersections in the city. and the state highway department says wrecks are down citywide. the city folks are pointing out the timing -- cameras go up in 2005, wrecks start coming down citywide. coincidence or cause/effect?
fyi, the program is not a "cash cow" any more; last year the state capped the fines at $75 and takes everything above and beyond operating costs, which are estimated at $69 a citation and doesn't include the cost of the administrative hearings for folks who want to fight the tickets. the city is actually having to dip into the surplus it accumulated when the fines were much higher to pay for the hearings; the state is getting the extra $6 a citation.
meanwhile, i don't think you can say drivers are more cautious at the 20 camera intersections -- the cameras caught an extra 20,000 people allegedly blowing signals or speeding in 2008 compared to 2007!