Josh Renaud

Red means stop

If you're like me and you hate the notion of red-light cameras, you'll be pleased to learn that they just don't work. That's right, they do not reduce the number of accidents at intersections; they increase the number of accidents.

Red light cameras always bothered me because:

• Private companies run the cameras and municipalities turn over a percentage of the fines to them.
• I deplore the idea of government watching citizens by camera
• The motive is clear: profit, not public safety.

The University of South Florida study on these cameras supports that third point, since the cameras HURT public safety, not improve it.

One perfect example of this is the red-light camera on West Florissant at the entrance to the parking lot of the old Dellwood Schnucks. This strip mall has been mostly vacant for several years!