ATS’ Newsletter, Vol. 4, Issue 48
Police: Houston Traffic Crashes Rise after Red-Light Safety Cameras Removed
KTRK-TV ABC 13 (Texas), Oct. 28, 2014
Houston police say they have proof that red-light cameras do prevent crashes and save lives. … The police found traffic crashes nearly doubled at Houston intersections after red-light cameras were removed, and fatal crashes rose 30%. The Houston Police Department says the cameras were force multiplies and were an added safety tool. Houston Police Executive Assistant Chief Tim Oettmeier explained the statistics were presented to “illustrate that if you don’t have enough personnel, things like this are going to happen.” See additional coverage from the Houston Chronicle.
Girl, 12, Dies after being Hit by SUV at Bus Stop
KATV-TV ABC 7 (Arkansas), Oct. 28, 2014
A 12-year-old girl who was struck by an SUV Monday afternoon at a bus stop in Pike County has died. The accident report states she was struck by a 2001 Ford Explorer which failed to yield when the bus stopped to unload passengers. The girl was hit as she crossed the highway. The report notes that all emergency lights and signals were activated on the bus. See related news coverage from KLRT-TV FOX 16.
Video Speed Camera Prank Goes Wrong
Farmingshow.com (New Zealand), Oct. 28, 2014
This prankster’s fun comes to an end when the police stop to ask questions.
Technology Targets Drivers who Pass Stopped School Buses
NBC Today (New York), Oct. 20, 2014
Motorists illegally pass stopped school buses more than 70,000 times a day, endangering the lives of children. Now police are using new technology to catch the lawbreakers.
Mom Calls on Drivers to Be Aware at School Bus Stops
Hungry Horse News (Montana), Oct. 29, 2014
The mother of a young boy who was nearly run over while crossing the street to a stopped school bus wants to get the word out to drivers about the need to pay closer attention. This is not a local problem. The major TV networks have been showing videos taken by cameras mounted on school buses across the U.S. showing vehicles speeding past while the buses’ side-mounted stop signs are down and the red lights are flashing. In some videos, vehicles as big as semi trucks narrowly miss schoolchildren at 60 mph.
School Bus Safety Cameras in Demand
WTOK-TV ABC 11 (Mississippi), Oct. 29, 2014
School bus safety advocates gathered in Jones County to call for more cameras to photograph vehicles that pass stopped buses. Superintendent Tommy Parker said he hopes the cameras will prevent any more accidents like the one that occurred in December 2009, when 5-year-old died after being struck while getting off a school bus.
Survey: 18,000 Drivers Pass Stopped N.Y. School Buses in 1 Day
School Transportation News, Oct. 29, 2014
Last week there were no reported student fatalities around school buses or bus stops during National School Bus Safety Week, which is welcome news after recent tragedies in Arkansas and Florida. To raise awareness of unsafe driving around school buses and bus stops, the New York Association for Pupil Transportation conducted a one-day survey of illegal bus passing on Oct. 21.
Car-School Bus Collision Injures 1
News-Press.com (Florida), Oct. 28, 2014
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 2008 Toyota Yaris was westbound on Leeland Heights Boulevard at 6:35 a.m. when it hit the rear of a school bus stopped in traffic and picking up students. The crash caused one minor injury to a passenger in the car.
Car Crashes into School Bus; 13 Children, 2 Adults Injured
WCSC-TV CBS 5 (South Carolina), Oct. 28, 2014
Officials with the South Carolina Highway Patrol say 13 kids and two adults were transported to the hospital with minor injuries following a school bus accident Monday morning. Colleton County Fire and Rescue says the bus was stopped to pick up children and was using its warning lights when the incident occurred.
School Bus Skirters Out of Control
Press and Sun Bulletin (New York), Oct. 28, 2014
School bus drivers in 18 school districts around the state watched as drivers illegally passed buses 385 times during a one-day survey last week, according to the New York Association for Pupil Transportation. That points to a wider problem, the association said. See related coverage from cnycentral.com.
Thousands Caught Passing Stopped School Buses
KEYE-TV CBS 42 (Texas), Oct. 27, 2014
Thousands of Austin drivers were caught on camera, as they passed by stopped school buses during a pilot program through the Austin Independent School District. One car after another, all breaking the law. … Currently, the cameras are just collecting information and no tickets are being issued. But that could change by next year, if Austin City Council members approve the plan.
Speed Fine Revenue Climbs in New York
Newsday, Oct. 24, 2014
Nassau continues to rack up millions of dollars in school speed camera revenues, according to the county’s internal accounting system. As of Oct. 10, the county had recorded $1.4 million in revenues collected from drivers caught on camera speeding through school zones between 7 a.m and 6 p.m.
Red-Light Running Fines Go Toward City Traffic Projects
The Spokesman-Review (Washington), Oct. 30, 2014
Proceeds from red-light camera safety tickets are paying for a traffic circle at Lyons Avenue and Cincinnati Street. The project is one of 15 traffic calming projects scheduled through the end of 2015.
Driver Charged with Disregarding Red Light
Aiken Standard (South Carolina), Oct. 28, 2014
No students were injured after a car struck an Aiken County school bus early Tuesday morning. The bus was attempting a left turn when the driver of a 2005 Mazda car ran a red light and collided with the left side of the bus, according to South Carolina Highway Patrol. The driver was charged with disregarding a traffic signal, authorities said.
2 Hospitalized after SUV, City Bus Collide
TheEagle.com (Texas), Oct. 28, 2014
Houston transit officials say two people have been hospitalized after their SUV collided with a city bus. Metro Transit Authority spokeswoman Margaret O’Brian-Molina says the vehicle ran a red light before it was struck by the bus near downtown. She tells the Houston Chronicle that the SUV flipped. She says two people were taken to St. Joseph Hospital but that their injuries weren’t life threatening.
Local Officials Lobby Lawmakers to Support Red-Light Cameras
NJ Advance Media for NJ.com (New Jersey), Oct. 27, 2014
Municipal and police officials from several towns that have red-light cameras descended on the Statehouse today to urge New Jersey lawmakers to renew the state’s soon-to-expire red-light camera pilot program. (South Jersey Times file photo)
American Traffic Solutions is pleased to announce its receipt of Clayton County Public Schools‘ notice to proceed with an expansion of its existing CrossingGuard School Bus Safety Camera program. This system is designed to deter motorists from illegally passing stopped school buses while children board or disembark. Currently, 20 CrossingGuard safety cameras are in use in the school district. ATS is honored to be working with Clayton County Public Schools and all of its customers on their traffic safety programs.
ATS_RoadSafety @ATS_RoadSafety NBC Today Show – New technology targets drivers who pass stopped school buses: http://youtu.be/kq3NFIW01_M?a via @YouTube
ATS_RoadSafety @ATS_RoadSafety RT @SaferRoadsUSA: #Halloween has a higher number of red-light runners on average! Remember this Friday to #StopOnRed http://bit.ly/1sN1kWW
Top 10 Bridge and Tunnel Toll Evaders Owe Millions
NJ Advance Media for NJ.com (New Jersey), Oct. 28, 2014
There are two kinds of toll evaders on the region’s toll roads, bridges and tunnels — the kind who try to disguise or conceal their license plate and the ones who drive through the E-ZPass lane without a tag. The top 10 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey toll violators owe a total of $2.08 million as of September 30, according to agency records. (The Star-Ledger photo by John O’Boyle)
Illinois Tollway Opening New Lanes on I-90
Move Illinois, Oct. 28, 2014
The Illinois Tollway announced today that it is beginning to open three new lanes in each direction between Rockford and Elgin as part of the $2.5 billion Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) Rebuilding and Widening Project, which is building a new state-of-the-art interstate from the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-3.
Commentary: Springfield Police, City Officials Say Cameras Improve Traffic Safety
Suburban News (New Jersey), Oct. 29, 2014
One of the primary roles of the government is to protect its citizens. Recognizing the dangerous state of certain intersections, the Township of Springfield implemented a red-light automated photo enforcement program in 2012 to curb violations and T-bone crashes — the most deadly type of collision on our roadways. We are proud to say this move has had an impact on public safety during the last two years, and we expect the history of success to continue.
Letter to the Editor: Stop Whining about Red-Light Cameras
Daily Record (New Jersey), Oct. 30, 2014
Bob Ingle’s recent column on red-light cameras was quick to ascribe evil motives and characterize as lies the explanations offered by supporters of red-light cameras. His response is typical of many opponents of the pilot program who refuse to acknowledge the truth — that this program was driven by the desire to reduce accidents caused by people who break the law.
Letter: Improve Safety to and from School
The Record (New York), Oct. 28, 2014
More needs to be done to keep rides to and from school safer. It’s disturbing to learn that a person lost his life in last Tuesday’s crash in Brunswick. It’s a sobering reminder that transportation, especially when it involves our school children, should never be taken for granted.
Letter: Speed Cameras Show Need to Slow Down
Newsday (New York), Oct. 26, 2014
I am continually amazed by the people who write in complaining about the traffic-camera tickets they received and demanding more warning signs. Instead of more signs, perhaps the Department of Motor Vehicles should mail each driver a copy of the state driver’s manual.
“It’s extremely dangerous to pass a stopped school bus. You never know when a kid will dart out in front of a bus.”
Charles Miller, Police Chief of Haverstraw, New York
School Transportation News, Oct. 29, 2014
“I absolutely believe the red-light cameras are doing a great job. We used to have a major accident at the corner of 1960 and Whitaker at least once a week. We don’t have them like that now.”
Gary Warman, Police Chief of Humble, Texas
The Tribune (Texas), Oct. 20, 2014