ATS’ Newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue 8


Hartford Pushes for Red-Light Cameras
NBC Connecticut, Jan. 26, 2012

The mayor of Hartford and the state senator who represents the capital city are working together to appeal to the state Legislature to pass legislation to install cameras at traffic lights. See related coverage in NorwalkPlus.com.

Midfield to Install 2nd Camera in February
The Birmingham News (Alabama), Jan. 25, 2012

Mayor Gary Richardson said the intersection along the highway is a no­torious spot for people run­ning red lights. The plan is to have the second red-light safety camera operational in early February. The city will notify drivers of the camera locations by put­ting up signs.


Fort Lee Considers Road Safety Camera Program
NorthJersey.com, Jan. 21, 2012

Fort Lee, which is home to one end of the world’s busiest bridge, might soon consider proposals from vendors of red-light safety cameras, over the objections of residents. In 2010, 51.2 million vehicles crossed the George Washington Bridge from Fort Lee into Manhattan. (Photo by Evabin.wordpress.com)

Traffic Fines Boost City’s Budget, Funds Community Projects
TriCities.com (Tennessee), Jan. 21, 2012

Speed cameras along U.S. Highway 11E significantly influenced the city’s finances last year, according to a recent audit report.

City Plans to Keep Speed Safety Cameras in School Zones
Redmond Reporter (Washington), Jan. 19, 2012

Speed safety cameras in school zones are proving more popular than red-light safety cameras in Redmond, where officials plan to keep the current speed program while exploring a plan to expand the system.

Hartford Mayor Readies Red-Light Camera Support
WFSB TV3 (Connecticut), Jan. 26, 2012

Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra is expected to announce his support for a proposal to install red-light safety cameras in next month’s legislative session.

Red Means Stop
Injury Board Blog Network (Minnesota), Jan. 19, 2012

In an effort to show just how dangerous running a red light can be, American Traffic Solutions, the biggest supplier of red-light safety cameras, has been sharing crash clips on YouTube. 

@Distraction.gov  “I want people to realize the consequences of what can happen when somebody’s not paying attention.” http://bit.ly/zRmP3e


Montgomery County Considers School Bus Safety Cameras
FOX TV5 (Maryland), Jan. 23, 2012

In a push to keep kids safe, Montgomery County could soon have more eyes watching out for dangerous moves on the road. See related coverage in WAMU.org.

Iowa Governor Supports Tougher School Bus Safety Laws
Radio Iowa, Jan. 23, 2012

Governor Terry Branstad says he supports an effort to toughen the state’s school bus safety laws. A group that includes the mother of a northern Iowa girl who was hit and killed as she tried to board her school bus has been lobbying legislators to pass a bill on the subject this year.

Quick Thinking Saves Little Girl’s Life at Bus Stop
KWWL TV 7 (Iowa), Jan. 22, 2012

Just like it’s supposed to, the school bus stopped with its lights flashing and its stop sign out. Just like they normally do, 5-year-old Laynee Hogan and Austin James “A.J.” Kremer started to cross the road to get on the bus when the unexpected happened. A.J. noticed a semi approaching and reached out to pull Laynee back. 

School Bus Camera Bill Support Outpaces Red-Light Cameras in Massachusetts
The Boston Globe, Jan. 22, 2012

Red-light camera legislation may be stalled, but a related measure to allow cameras to record drivers who breeze past stopped school buses is gaining traction.

Interest Grows in School Bus Safety Cameras
CNET.com, Jan. 19, 2012

First it was traffic lights and stop signs — now cities are outfitting school buses with cameras to catch drivers ignoring the rules of the road. See related article in AutoBlog.com.

American Traffic Solutions and the city of Seattle signed two agreements this past week that will increase the number of red-light safety cameras in the city and install speed safety cameras in school zones at four elementary schools.

Editorial: Pass Law Allowing Red-Light Cameras
New Haven Register (Connecticut), Jan. 23, 2012

For the sake of saving lives and improving traffic safety, this may be the year that the Legislature allows cities to install cameras at stop lights. This will be the eighth year that New Haven’s push for the law will be heard by the Legislature.

Editorial: School Bus Cameras A Good Idea, with Caveats
Herald-Mail (Maryland), Jan. 23, 2012

There can be no excuse for driving past the red flashing lights of a stopped school bus. The law is universally known, and the reason for the law is universally understood. And the potential consequences of failing to stop are clearly understood as well.

Letter to the Editor: Red-Light Safety Cameras Send a Clear Message
The News Tribune (Washington), Jan. 26, 2012

Hundreds of people are killed and thousands more are injured each year by red-light runners. Unfortunately, this disregard for traffic safety laws frequently goes unpunished. We have directly experienced the torment and grief these careless incidents create.

Letter to the Editor: School Bus Drivers Worry about Children’s Safety at Stops
Arizona Silver Belt, Jan. 25, 2012

I drive a school bus for Destiny School. Probably the greatest worry for school bus drivers is a child being injured or killed at a bus stop when a vehicle runs the flashing red lights and stop sign displayed on the bus.

Letter to the Editor: Red-Light Runner Ignored Law
The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio), Jan. 25, 2012

I find it humorous that, even after being warned that the fine would be upheld, the driver chose to hang around and plead his case. He probably thought his explanation and “statistics” would get him out of the fine. … I must have missed the part in driver’s education about making a “very safe turn” on red without a complete stop.

Letter to the Editor: No Proof They Don’t Save Lives
The Herald (Washington), Jan. 23, 2012

I must say I am really disappointed in Jim Smith’s opinion about red-light cameras. He says it has not saved one life in school zones. How does he know that? Those cameras have saved many lives at intersections on 196th. Nobody is running red lights, and to me, that is saving lives.


“This was a person that had a suspended license, that hit this little girl when the school bus was stopped and the arm was out and the lights were flashing.”
Terry Branstad, Iowa governor, on crash that killed 7-year-old Kadyn Halverson
Radio Iowa, Jan. 23, 2012

“The cameras made it possible (to donate the money). Without the cameras, we would not be able to do that.”
Judy Dulaney, Bluff City manager, on a $50,000 donation to start a Boys and Girls Club in Bluff City.
TriCities.com (Tennessee), Jan. 21, 2012

“We all agree that speeding in school zones is flat out a bad idea. I don’t think there will be any issue of it passing.”
Pat Vache, Redmond City Council president
Redmond Reporter (Washington), Jan. 19, 2012

Iowa
Police in Des Moines say crashes have decreased 33 percent at intersections with red-light safety cameras when comparing the program’s first six months to the same time period for the previous four years. Source: WHO-TV13, Jan. 24, 2012.


Missouri
Kansas City police have written nearly 200,000 camera-generated tickets since January 2009. (Kansas City Star photo by Allison Long.) Source: Kansas City Star, Jan. 23, 2012.

National
A Harris Interactive national online survey of 2,112 adults over age 18 found 66 percent of respondents favor placing cameras on the side of school buses to help ticket drivers who illegally pass school buses when stopped to let students board or exit. Source:  School Transportation News online, Jan. 24, 2012.

Tennessee
Between Jan. 1, 2010, and May 31, 2011, Bluff City’s speed cameras issued 39,923 citations to drivers from all 50 states, four Canadian provinces, two military command posts and the District of Columbia. Source: TriCities.com, Jan. 21, 2012.

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