April 15, 2008

Freewheeling - April 15, 2008



As we indicated in a previous post, we welcome PRU readers to ask questions of each other and discuss what's on their minds.

One topic that seems to be on the minds of some of our readers is the issue of Red Light Cameras being installed at "key intersections" in Park Ridge. PRU has covered the topic
here and here.

Here's a list of recently recommended resources from readers:

1.
Red light cameras too good for their own good?

2.
Red-Light Cameras' Success Produce Financial Headache For Dallas

3.
Effects Of Red-Light Cameras

4.
Red-light camera monkey business may be a national trend

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Extend the yellow by 5-8 seconds.
You will have more rear end type
accidents - for sure if you install the cameras and don't extend the yellow.

Thank you.

Anonymous said...

People drive too fast and I think red light cameras will help slow people down and change behavior over the long run.

ANd make some money for the city, so that we can give it away to car dealers and insiders.

Heck you could put up posts with boxes on the top and drives would be conditioned to, dare I say, OBEY the law.

Anonymous said...

It does seem like some ideas sound good to start but don't turn out to be good in the long haul or can have those unintended consequences. I am keeping an open mind on this idea because of the safety concerns.

Reggie said...

How about a camera at the crosswalk on Devon by Morningfields. THe traffic rarely yields to pedestrians crossing the street. Someone is going to get hit there for sure.

Anonymous said...

I think its just more Nanny State control over our every day existence. I don't like it.

Anonymous said...

I think that a bigger safety issue is the poor condition of our streets, like BUsse and Cumberland. Drivers trying to avoid the potholes are going to hit each other and cause an accident.

Where is our state rep on this one? These have been problems for YEARS and still no leadership, no action. Mulligan is an ineffective joke. The IDOT always does not have any money, but other streets get paved. It is clear that Rosemary just does not have any pull to help out Park Ridge.

Anonymous said...

The roads in town are in poor shape. My understanding is the city doesn't have control over all the roads going through town and that does mean our state rep. and state sen. should be helping us and our state sen. lives right here in town!

Anonymous said...

Of course both our State Representative, Rosemary Mulligan, and our State Senator, Dan Kotowski, should be helping to bring improvements to Park Ridge...

But I think to compare Kotowski's record of success for Park Ridge in the little time he's spent in Springfield to Mulligan's record of success in the nearly two decades she's spent in Springfield is...as the saying goes...comparing apples to oranges...

On the subject of today's post and red-light cameras...I read a comment on the burbcopschicago blog that described all the traffic madness as "putting a bounty on the heads" of citizens... That single comment really made an impact on my way of thinking about this...

I'm against red-light cameras being installed not only because I believe they aren't effective and can create other problems as cited in the articles listed, but also because I believe there is more of a revenue motive behind their installation, rather than a safety motive...

Anonymous said...

if it can catch those at Dee/Busse who AGGRESSIVELY turn right onto Dee from Busse from the CENTER LANE, I am all for it. Even the PR police look the other way on this.
Almost every day during evening rush hour. Seriously.

Anonymous said...

To anony-mouse's comment,

Maybe, but those drivers would have to be doing all that while going through a red light that a camera could then take a picture of. What you are talking about is the general bad conduct of aggressive drivers in how they treat pedestrians. I think that's a whole other issue, because the redlight cameras are for stopping the running of redlights and preventing t-bone accidents from happening.

Anonymous said...

yes, you are right for the most part. They like to "turn on red" from the center lane too, if the right turn lane is backed up.
They don't almost hit pedestrians, just other cars.
One day...I will set up a camera crew there for a few hours. Yes, taking the law into my own hands since the men in blue cannot be bothered.

MIKE said...

I see know reson why they shouldn't be installed and anyone who has a problem with them are foolish and have too much time on there hands.

Anonymous said...

Tell the dingbat tailgators....
to back off! should they get installed.

Anonymous said...

MIKE said...
I see know reson why they shouldn't be installed and anyone who has a problem with them are foolish and have too much time on there hands.

April 15, 2008 5:33 PM


Well, hay Mike it's kewl if ewe wont red-light cameras installed because ewe think they are wurth it...even if sum reports indicate an increase in rear-end collisions ocher wear these cameras are installed, and the city's own report indicates rear-end collisions are *already* the most freakwent types of accidents reported at the intersections being considered...

I wood have to disagree with ewe about the "foolish" nature of those who might have taken their time to read those reports and then "have a problem" with the installation of the cameras...

But that's just my opinion...

ParkRidgeUnderground said...

Bean, that was cold! :-P

Anonymous said...

I know this does not apply to today's discussion but, I thought there was a state law, or perhaps fed, which says that an employeer with over ? employees must notify the state if they intend to close. Does this apply to Napleton?
If not, if Napleton's employees are union did they have to inform the union of their intention to close?
I just can't get it out of my mind that Napleton did not know he was going to close when working on the city donation to him.
A. J.