Spring Break
Greenville needs traffic cameras
Lara Oliver
Issue date: 2/24/09 Section: Opinion
One of the perks of living within walking distance of both school and work is that I hardly ever have to drive anymore. When something is a little too far away to walk, I usually bike, and when I can't bike, I like to take the bus.
Unfortunately, in some circumstances, I find myself needing to use my car for things like picking up groceries or going off the bus routes. On these occasions, my stress levels go off the charts.
Honestly, I don't like to drive in the first place and when I do I become one of those drivers I know most other people hate. The finicky, thinks-she's-an-old-lady driver that goes exactly the speed limit and stays three car lengths behind the driver in front of them type. I'm not exactly what people in a rush hope to run into in single-lane traffic and it doesn't bother me when cars pass me. I've also learned to stop panicking every time I get cut off in traffic.
Even with how much more relaxed I've become about driving, there's still one thing that scares the crap out of me every time I end up on busy roads: people who run red lights.
Whether it's the accidental "didn't see the light turn yellow" or the purposeful "I don't care if the light's red - I need to get to the store now," red light-runners, I always end up cringing, anticipating a crash to happen. Of course, a crash hardly ever happens, but it still unnerves me how many people seem to disregard the safety of others for their own convenience.
I think every time I drive I see about half a dozen people run red lights. It's usually the worst at heavy intersections like the ones near Wal-Mart and Target, where people are more likely to run into someone going in the opposite direction.
Even disregarding my completely anecdotal evidence, the hard statistics on running red lights are pretty darn sobering. According to Drivers.com, each year about 1,000 vehicular deaths and 90,000 injuries happen as a result of running red lights. It's pretty scary stuff, but a lot of people are aware of these numbers and still book it through intersections when it's not their turn. It seems like we need a more drastic solution than scare tactics.
I know this suggestion will probably make me the least popular member of the paper, but I really think it's about time Greenville installed red light cameras at some of the major intersections like Evans and Greenville and Memorial and Greenville.
After red light cameras were installed in my hometown at some of the most dangerous intersections, people running red lights went down almost 40 percent. Crashes at the intersections began to drop significantly.
Installing cameras will undoubtedly cause a lot of anger in drivers, especially impatient ones, but it's clear that people aren't going to follow the law of their own will. And if cameras prevent just one person from being t-boned by a red light-runner, then I think all the aggravated bellyaching from impatient drivers will be worth it.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
Unfortunately, in some circumstances, I find myself needing to use my car for things like picking up groceries or going off the bus routes. On these occasions, my stress levels go off the charts.
Honestly, I don't like to drive in the first place and when I do I become one of those drivers I know most other people hate. The finicky, thinks-she's-an-old-lady driver that goes exactly the speed limit and stays three car lengths behind the driver in front of them type. I'm not exactly what people in a rush hope to run into in single-lane traffic and it doesn't bother me when cars pass me. I've also learned to stop panicking every time I get cut off in traffic.
Even with how much more relaxed I've become about driving, there's still one thing that scares the crap out of me every time I end up on busy roads: people who run red lights.
Whether it's the accidental "didn't see the light turn yellow" or the purposeful "I don't care if the light's red - I need to get to the store now," red light-runners, I always end up cringing, anticipating a crash to happen. Of course, a crash hardly ever happens, but it still unnerves me how many people seem to disregard the safety of others for their own convenience.
I think every time I drive I see about half a dozen people run red lights. It's usually the worst at heavy intersections like the ones near Wal-Mart and Target, where people are more likely to run into someone going in the opposite direction.
Even disregarding my completely anecdotal evidence, the hard statistics on running red lights are pretty darn sobering. According to Drivers.com, each year about 1,000 vehicular deaths and 90,000 injuries happen as a result of running red lights. It's pretty scary stuff, but a lot of people are aware of these numbers and still book it through intersections when it's not their turn. It seems like we need a more drastic solution than scare tactics.
I know this suggestion will probably make me the least popular member of the paper, but I really think it's about time Greenville installed red light cameras at some of the major intersections like Evans and Greenville and Memorial and Greenville.
After red light cameras were installed in my hometown at some of the most dangerous intersections, people running red lights went down almost 40 percent. Crashes at the intersections began to drop significantly.
Installing cameras will undoubtedly cause a lot of anger in drivers, especially impatient ones, but it's clear that people aren't going to follow the law of their own will. And if cameras prevent just one person from being t-boned by a red light-runner, then I think all the aggravated bellyaching from impatient drivers will be worth it.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
TJ Hooker
posted 2/24/09 @ 10:33 AM EST
Greenville had traffic cameras at one time. They were disabled or taken down. The City of Greenville was allowing a company to run the cameras and bill the violaters. (Continued…)
Johnny
posted 2/24/09 @ 1:16 PM EST
Greenville had planned to implement a traffic camera system awhile back it never got installed to begin with because of the issues. The problem is that everyone in this town drives to slow so people try to make up the time. (Continued…)
Shawn
posted 2/24/09 @ 1:41 PM EST
The traffic in Greenville as a whole is the problem. The slow drivers, congested roads, poor design leads to frustration that can lead to drivers hoping that they can get a couple of seconds out of the light so that they can get to where they need and get off the road. (Continued…)
Kaitlyn
posted 2/25/09 @ 12:21 PM EST
Installing red-light cameras is often not a good solution. First off, your statement that in your hometown the number of accidents at intersections with red-light cameras went down is misleading. (Continued…)
Kaela
Kaela
posted 2/28/09 @ 11:33 AM EST
Traffic in Greenville sucks. I don't think traffic camera's will fix the problem that exists here. There needs to be detection systems to tell when there are cars waiting and how many for how long, etc. (Continued…)
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