Red light cameras are promoted as a way for a city to reduce accidents, improve traffic safety, and provide a stream of income to the city. But the red light cameras aren’t working, according to League City city council candidates. Instead, a few of them say, the cameras are more hassle than they are benefit.
According to The Newspaper, a national online news source all about driving, three city council seats are up for grabs and the red light issue is one of the top concerns of the candidates. Councilman Mick Phalen is one of the few who support the city’s system of red light cameras. His opponent, Heidi Thiess, isn’t so sure they are doing any good.
As we wrote a few months back, one citizen attempted to circulate a petition that would place a camera ban on the ballot. But officials took over, proposing their own ban that would take effect in 2014 after the current contract with Redflex Traffic Systems runs out.
Candidate Heidi Thiess said, “So far we, our community, have been fined $5 million by Redflex, a company out of Australia. We now know that accidents are up two-thirds… So if Redflex would like to go to the mat with us and say that they have made our intersections safer, I beg to differ. I urge you to stand strong against this company from Australia that’s trying to come and tell us what we may and may not vote on in our community.”
The argument against red light cameras, in general, is that while they may reduce the incidence of some types of accidents, they increase others. For instance, a red light camera may reduce t-bone or side impact accidents, as fewer people are running through lights. But the sudden braking that happens when people are more aware of traffic light cameras means that rear-end accidents increase exponentially. According to The Newspaper:
Accident data suggest (view statistics) the cameras have failed to reduce accidents in League City. That is one of the reasons camera foe Geri Bentley is looking to oust incumbent Councilman Phyllis Sanborn, the last remaining council member who voted in favor of the red light cameras.
“I believe that we should be more concerned with League City residents’ safety and less concerned about lining the pockets of select individuals who work with and for Redflex,” Bentley wrote on her campaign website. “The voters should have the ultimate decision.”
What happens when voters go to the polls, in regard to the red lights and the council seats, remains to be seen.
League City Rear-End Accident Attorney
As a Houston, League City, and Pasadena accident attorney, I see many cases where an accident is caused by one driver’s careful adherence to the law and another driver’s carelessness. Such is the case in many rear-end accidents. If you’ve been injured in a rear-end accident, I may be able to help you get compensation for your injuries.
Contact my offices to discuss your case and the legal options available to you. I can be reached for a free consultation by calling 281-677-3961.
