Red light cameras
I disagree with lawmakers pushing legislation to outlaw red-light cameras statewide, alleging it has no safety benefits and fills local governments’ pockets (Lawmakers consider ban on red-light cameras, Feb. 5). My introduction of the red-light camera when I was a commissioner in Aventura had nothing to do with revenue. Rather, just before, my wife has been nearly killed in an intersection accident caused by a red-light runner.
Our purpose was solely for the safety of the motorists and pedestrians. At only four Aventura intersections with cameras for the prior three years, the result was a dramatic reduction. There were 1,894 intersection crashes in 2010, 1,439 in 2011 and 1,102 in 2012. That tells us that when people know the cameras are there, they will modify their behavior. Just one life saved would have justified the program.
Bob Diamond, Aventura
This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 7:01 PM with the headline "Red light cameras."