ATS’ Newsletter Vol. 3, Issue 34

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Right-on-Red Turns Endanger Pedestrians, Bicyclists
Central Florida News Channel 13, July 24, 2013

New video released from the company that provides red-light cameras shows the dangers for pedestrians and bicyclists when drivers violate those signals while turning right. See related press release on Morningstar.

Red-Light Runner of the Week: Caddy Coming Through Seconds Late
Clearwater Patch (Florida), July 23, 2013

A driver in a Cadillac goes through the stop light at Gulf to Bay Boulevard and Belcher Road several seconds after it turns red, making Clearwater Police’s latest Red Light Camera Violator of the Week.

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Speed Cameras Have New Look in Scottsdale School Zones
KSAZ-TV FOX 10 (Arizona), July 22, 2013

Scottsdale Police have a new traffic tool to increase safety in school zones. Two portable photo-enforcement towers will be rotated among Scottsdale’s 31 schools. After a month of issuing warnings, authorities are now using the cameras to issue citations.

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Miami to Resume Issuing Tickets from Red-Light Camera Program
Miami Herald (Florida), July 25, 2013

The city of Miami will resume issuing tickets Friday to drivers caught running certain red lights after commissioners narrowly decided Thursday to create a special board to hear citation appeals. (Miami Herald photo by Alex Kolyer)

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In Wake of Pedestrian Deaths, Cameras Proposed for Boulevard
The Inquirer (Pennsylvania), July 25, 2013

One week after a mother and three of her sons were fatally struck by apparent drag racers on Roosevelt Boulevard, a state senator has proposed lining the busy roadway with speed-enforcement cameras, the first technology of its kind in the area. See related article in the Daily News. (Associated Press photo by Matt Rourke)

Close Call Revives Discussion about Speeders, Red-Light Runners
Danville Patch (California), July 24, 2013

A  Patch editor’s close call Monday night revives an ongoing conversation in Danville: Speeding drivers and red light runners. … The story begins just a couple of blocks away from a 2011 double fatality. 

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N.J. Turnpike Challenges National Title
NJ.com, July 23, 2013

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority collected $992 million in tolls last year, making it the most profitable toll road in the nation. … Turnpike authority spokesman Thomas Fenney told NJ.com the Turnpike cannot be characterized as profitable. “The Turnpike and Parkway both rank among the top 5 busiest toll roads in North America. High volume means high revenue.”

Ocoee Activates New Red-Light Camera
Central Florida News TV-13, July 22, 2013

The Ocoee Police Department activated its newest red-light camera Monday. The new camera is at the intersection of Silver Star and Clarke roads. Ocoee city officials said they are adding the camera in hopes of saving lives.

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Short Signature Count Means There Will Be No Vote on Tucson’s Cameras
Arizona Daily Star, July 22, 2013

It looks like Tucson’s red-light cameras are here to stay. There were not enough valid signatures to certify placing a measure banning traffic cameras within city limits on the ballot this November, the Pima County Recorder’s Office has found.

As for Camera Program’s Future, Township Puts Safety before Revenue
Asbury Park Press (New Jersey), July 21, 2013

With the clock running down on the state’s Red Light Camera Program, the township could see its revenue drop more than half a million dollars if the state pulls the plug on the program at the end of next year. … The township is not concerned about the potential loss of revenue if the program is discontinued, said Mayor Stephen Acropolis. … “These cameras are about changing people’s view on driving, not about the making money.”

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New Florida Red-Light Camera Law Could Bump Revenue for Cities
Miami Herald (Florida), July 20, 2013

When South Florida cities began installing red-light cameras several years ago, most expected a revenue bump along with increased intersection safety. But while most studies show few crashes at intersections with red-light cameras, many cities haven’t seen the money they expected. (Miami Herald photo by Andrew Bosch)

Red-Light Runner Collides with Vehicle Carrying Miami-Dade Mayor’s Son
Miami Herald Blog (Florida), July 19, 2013

One of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s adult sons, Carlos J. Gimenez, was traveling in a car in the wee hours Thursday morning that was hit by a driver who ran a red light.

Pinecrest May Give Green Light for Red-Light Cameras
Miami Herald (Florida), July 19, 2013

Pinecrest council members voted Tuesday to move ahead with red-light cameras at four intersections on U.S. 1. The program will move forward only if the Village Council gives final approval at a second meeting, at 7 p.m. on Sept. 11. If passed, the council will begin negotiations with American Traffic Solutions, the company that operates the cameras for more than 20 municipalities in Miami-Dade County.

Majority Support Red-Light Safety Cameras in Pittsburgh
KeystonePolitics.com (Pennsylvania), July 18, 2013

Pittsburgh has been considering installing red-light cameras at some of its more dangerous intersections, and now Public Policy Polling is out with some fascinating survey results on political attitudes in Pittsburgh toward this policy. A solid majority of residents (59 percent to 35 percent), support installing the cameras, and this is driven by lopsided support among women.

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N.C. Passes Tougher Penalties for School Bus Passers
SchoolBusFleet.com, July 24, 2013

Gov. Pat McCrory has signed into law legislation that enacts stiffer penalties for motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses.

National Board Looks at Bus Safety Standards
Gainesville Times (Georgia), July 23, 2013

Federal regulators are considering new safety standards and technologies for school buses, while locally all motorists are being urged to practice caution on the roads throughout the upcoming school year. … Gainesville’s transportation director Jerry Castleberry said that the biggest safety issues happen outside of a school bus. He said that once a year, the system does a count of people not obeying the stop sign on the school bus.

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@ScottWTHR IFD photo: Crash at NY & Rural. Witnesses say silver van rolled 4 times. Other driver ran red light. 1 minor injury. pic.twitter.com/dqBiOEm1kh

@ATS_RoadSafety VIDEO: Dangerous right-hand turns show close calls with #pedestrians & #bicyclists:  http://bit.ly/12gxP4c  #StopOnRed #FL

@ATS_RoadSafety PPP: Majority Support for Red-Light Traffic Cameras in #Pittsburgh | Keystone Politics keystonepolitics.com/2013/07/ppp-majority-support-for-red-light-cameras-in-pittsburgh/ #StopOnRed #FL

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Editorial: Pittsburgh Has Chance to Improve Traffic Safety
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania), July 24, 2013

What’s missing when a driver cuts someone off, speeds or, worse, runs a red light? Oftentimes a police officer. But what would happen if there was a little electronic “officer” at every high-risk, accident-prone intersection in Pittsburgh? Last year, the state Legislature authorized Pittsburgh to become the second city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, to install red-light cameras, which may help to discourage poor driving decisions.

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Letter to the Editor: Red-Light Cameras Would Spur Safer Driving
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania), July 23, 2013

Finally, the city is considering red-light cameras! Why this took so long I have no idea, but all I can say is hallelujah.

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“A family has been decimated because reckless hooligans thought they could play Speed Racer in Northeast Philly. It’s outrageous and we need speed-enforcement cameras to help us stop this senselessness.”
Michael Stack, Pennsylvania State Senator
The Inquirer, July 25, 2013

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“When you are talking about $500,000 on a $95 million budget, it’s not a huge amount of money. These cameras are about changing people’s view on driving, not about the making money.”
Stephen Acropolis, Mayor of Brick Township
Asbury Park Press (New Jersey), July 21, 2013

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