The evidence proves it: Red light cameras don’t work | Capital-Star Letters

By James Sikorski Jr.

You can’t be serious saying that speed cameras are a success in Philly and the rest of Pennsylvania (In Philly, Roosevelt Boulevard anti-speeding program ruled a success, Capital-Star, 8/16/22).

When I looked at automated traffic enforcement, a lot of problems with red-light cameras over the years, which included more crashes and accuracy problems.

With speed cameras, I also saw erroneous tickets. This was in or near the city. If you look at Chicago, deaths increased near speed cameras. Are we to believe that Philly is special, and experienced the exact opposite?

The state has been experiencing record safety, and US traffic deaths decreased slightly during 2021. Vision Zero has been shown to be a failure where it has been tried too. You would not know any of this, if you follow the news.

So cities and states enact poor engineering and predatory ticketing, then wonder why there are problems? Really? Engineers know how to achieve safety, but instead cities favor maximizing ticket revenue. Want to do three easy things in Philly? Try posting 85th percentile speed limits, making yellow durations longer on traffic lights, and fewer stop signs. The public is catching onto how real safety is achieved.

Do your own research, the National Motorists Association website has a wealth of independent data about traffic issues. You can even read the raw data and footnotes. Data that is real and fair speaks for itself. There is no agenda.

So for maximum safety, contact state elected officials and say you oppose speed cameras and other forms of automated traffic enforcement.

James Sikorski Jr. is the Pennsylvania advocate for the National Motorists Association. He writes from Wapwallopen, Pa.