Lately I have seen many commentaries on traffic cameras. I don’t like these devices. I don’t like the wolves in government that approve them against the will of the people. And I pity all who think they will help with safety.
Letters written by people who have lost loved ones are difficult to
respond to. I really do have compassion for those folks. I can imagine that the loss can make many things look like a good response to a problem. But are they rational?
When a parent loses a child to a drunk driver, anything to discourage alcohol seems fair. When a parent loses a child to a
firearm incident, all of the guns have to be restricted or outlawed. When a child is killed in a car due to an accident at an intersection, we need to figure out a way to regulate that too. The list really can go on and on.
But the bottom line in all of these things is pretty clear from the data: These actions will make some feel better, like they really made a difference. But the only result is usually that the grieving people just feel better.
In the case of the traffic cameras, a search of the internet will show lots of data proving that no safety benefits come from the cameras. In fact, injuries were not reduced and collisions increased. Rear-end accidents from people slamming on their brakes occurred more than ever.
Popular Mechanics, National Motorist Association and the Washington Post, for three, cite data that supports this. Nowhere did I find data that proved otherwise.
So, come on, folks. Let’s be honest about this thing and make fact-based decisions; not mistakes based on emotion. And remember all of those wolves who are elected when they need your vote. Give them what they deserve. They work for us!
Bill Monger
Snohomish
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