Is there any logical reason our Councils are afraid of red light camears?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Is there any logical reason our Councils are afraid of red light camears?

tehgerbil

751 posts

Ultimate Geek

Subscriber

#273125 5-Aug-2020 16:18

Literally thousands of Christchurch drivers have it in their skulls red lights are optional.

Red light running is an epidemic in Christchurch, with red light running causes over half of injury crashes.

I was hit myself by an Uber driver running a red, he lied through his teeth and said it was my fault.

Thank goodness I have a dashcam but it's just the tip of iceberg.

And yet for some unknown reason our elected professionals seem either oblivious or unwilling to actually do anything to stop the practice.

Is there some secret illuminati holding back on red light cameras to catch the arrogant b*stards, or are our elected officials just really poor at their jobs?

I am really confused why this isn't a bigger deal?

Edit: https://thumbs.gfycat.com/ImpeccableScratchyHoopoe-mobile.mp4 this was my experience this morning, but regularly come across this at any point in time.

1 | 2 | 3

29213 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#2535323 5-Aug-2020 16:23

A red light camera was installed in Wellington (Karo Dr / Victoria St) but is not operational - I saw that because if it was it would literally catch hundreds of vehicles per day running the red light. I drive through this intersection every night during peak hour and there would hardly be a day go by when I don't see multiple vehicles go through red lights on virtually every light cycle.

Maybe it's because it'd be too much work to process all the fines. 😂 I know in the old days with the film speed cameras there was pressure to install one on Aotea Quay but it was estimated it would take several thousand photos per day and from memory the film held something like 100 photos.

wellygary

4918 posts

Uber Geek

#2535327 5-Aug-2020 16:32

In short, because there is nothing in for the council...

The Council has to pay to install the cameras, they then have to pay the police to wade through the data and write the tickets, and then the government gets the fine money....

Council's can only enforce stationary offences, if it is moving its the police's responsibility....

https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/articles/news/2019/01/green-light-for-red-light-safety-cameras/

"AT owns and installs the red light safety cameras and NZ Police has responsibility for enforcement. Money from infringements goes to the Crown's National Consolidated Fund"

Oblivian

4248 posts

Uber Geek

#2535328 5-Aug-2020 16:34

The red lighters poles were still in place in CHC on Gloucester/Montreal and Bealey until shortly after the quakes.

I Believe the ripping of the road cabling had an accelerated effect. Along with the vandalism and ongoing need to do maintenance.

Now the traffic centre has HD wireless cameras on a buttload of intersections. Quite an extensive network, if you have a crash at one. They soon know about it by the automated flow rates mixed with camera checks.

That article does mention they looked at bringing them back to Colombo Moorhouse, but I'm yet to see it.

An afternoon campaign would net them lots. But equal accusations of 'revenue gathering' for doing so despite being the major factor for injuries in canterbury.

If you are on facey, like the transport for christchurch page. You soon see how many daily updates there are for intersection crashes. Averages about 2-3 a day.

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
12539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Spark

Subscriber

#2535331 5-Aug-2020 16:37

Next time auckland wants to increase their rates, they should just stick a bunch of these along K road, Queen street and Victoria street. will make bank off even the buses...

if only that was actually true anyway..

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

Blurtie

262 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2535332 5-Aug-2020 16:38

Having only recently moved to Chch, I have noticed this of the drivers around here... Although in saying that, there are number of intersections (mainly if you're turning right) where you wouldn't be able get through if you didn't run a red... I've noticed that there aren't many dedicated 'right turn' traffic lights around, forcing these motorists to absolutely gap it when traffic lights turns amber/red... Which inevitably also prompts the motorists behind to follow..

afe66

2450 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2535333 5-Aug-2020 16:39

There are also no votes in it.

Our childish public belief is after all that speed tickits are revenue gathering not an incentive to follow the laws.

Red light cameras will invoke a similar response in a loud minority whom media will give too much attention to.

rb99

1745 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2535334 5-Aug-2020 16:39

Make life easier for yourself, come to Whakatane. No red light cameras, no red lights at all, or amber or green...

rb99

Oblivian

4248 posts

Uber Geek

#2535337 5-Aug-2020 16:45

And that turning on red is a bit of a have. Try Papanui and Harewood at peak and see how many busses do it.

70% of the time red runners (more so on turning) the cause is the straight ahead traffic not wanting to stop on amber like you are meant to and let the turning traffic complete it

The remaining 30% is the aholes who think they can use the red to skip waiting another sequence.

There's 2 overlaps. Do not enter an intersection unless your exit is clear (this could also mean turning across traffic as giving way is a requirement). And, you are permitted to complete your turn as the light phases, but before the red. And must NOT ENTER the same intersection. When in reality the next 2 cars run it too.

2) While a yellow signal in the form of an arrow is displayed,—

(a) a driver facing the signal must not enter the controlled area and
must not make the movement indicated by the signal, unless the driver
intends to proceed in the direction indicated by the signal and, when the
signal first appears, the driver’s vehicle is so close to the controlled
area that it cannot safely be stopped before entering the area:

SheriffNZ

489 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2535351 5-Aug-2020 17:14

As a Christchurch resident, I must be the only driver that follows the speed limit sides, particularly in areas of road works. All other traffic along Bealy Ave must be doing at least 55k.

rugrat

2166 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2535395 5-Aug-2020 17:33

Christchurch, quite often I’m on road turning right, In middle of intersection, light goes amber, I can see a car approaching not slowing down, so get forced to wait and we both go through red lights. There’s a right hand turn arrow, but not on all cycles it comes on. What the!

I been crossing on foot at intersection, if I crossed when it said walk, would’ve been run over a few times now.

Also was turning right, cars had stopped other side multi lane road, I turn right, car goes through red light hits me and tries to claim light was orange.

My car was written off, insurance paid for full value of car, luckily there was witness’s and around six months later got call from insurance company saying other driver finally admitting they went through red, and got my excess back. Police came to scene, gave them my account of what happened and didn’t hear back from their side after that.

Behodar

7127 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2535399 5-Aug-2020 17:40

rb99:

Make life easier for yourself, come to Whakatane. No red light cameras, no red lights at all, or amber or green...

You clearly didn't see the front page of today's paper talking about people running the red lights outside the fire station!

rb99

1745 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2535413 5-Aug-2020 17:58

Behodar:

rb99:

Make life easier for yourself, come to Whakatane. No red light cameras, no red lights at all, or amber or green...

You clearly didn't see the front page of today's paper talking about people running the red lights outside the fire station!

True. If they count. Do they count ? Mind you, have only been stopped there once and was quite impressed that it seemed to be a pretty quick process - red light, stop, fire engines go, start moving again, so its not like you sitting there for ages before and after.

rb99

alasta

4748 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#2535431 5-Aug-2020 18:47

SheriffNZ: As a Christchurch resident, I must be the only driver that follows the speed limit sides, particularly in areas of road works. All other traffic along Bealy Ave must be doing at least 55k.

Last time I drove in Christchurch I was amazed at the poor driver behaviour. Moorhouse Ave was full of beat up old Japanese cars treating it like amateurs day at Ruapuna.

boosacnoodle

237 posts

Master Geek

#2535443 5-Aug-2020 19:24

Blurtie:

Having only recently moved to Chch, I have noticed this of the drivers around here... Although in saying that, there are number of intersections (mainly if you're turning right) where you wouldn't be able get through if you didn't run a red... I've noticed that there aren't many dedicated 'right turn' traffic lights around, forcing these motorists to absolutely gap it when traffic lights turns amber/red... Which inevitably also prompts the motorists behind to follow..

This is absolutely bollocks. No one is holding a gun to your head forcing you to endanger other motorists and pedestrians. If you are doing this - you are part of the problem. Intersections with a red right turn arrow are design so that less traffic will flow through them. Take another route.

gajan

148 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

Spark NZ

Lifetime subscriber

#2535454 5-Aug-2020 19:56

boosacnoodle:

Blurtie:

Having only recently moved to Chch, I have noticed this of the drivers around here... Although in saying that, there are number of intersections (mainly if you're turning right) where you wouldn't be able get through if you didn't run a red... I've noticed that there aren't many dedicated 'right turn' traffic lights around, forcing these motorists to absolutely gap it when traffic lights turns amber/red... Which inevitably also prompts the motorists behind to follow..

This is absolutely bollocks. No one is holding a gun to your head forcing you to endanger other motorists and pedestrians. If you are doing this - you are part of the problem. Intersections with a red right turn arrow are design so that less traffic will flow through them. Take another route.

for the lead driver... depends, if they've "entered" the intersection.

https://www.drivingtests.co.nz/resources/turning-right-traffic-lights/

as per the quoted rules (I didn't check their source) provided the intended intersection is clear you are able to "enter" the intersection.

Atleast we don't have to deal with doing hook turns with trams like in Melbourne.

My comments and remarks are not necessarily of my employer.

1 | 2 | 3