Just noticed they are putting in a Red Light Camera on Avent Ferry @ Varsity. got one bit up, have the base in for the second bit. Its on the Southbound side.

Yay for Raleigh to emulate Cary. How about doing something proper at that intersection and fixing the traffic lights so we quit having both sides turn left into straight traffic and bout kill each other...

3/13/2009 11:03:34 AM

I thought the state said red light cameras were a no go due to increases in vehicle accidents at these intersections...

[Edited on March 13, 2009 at 12:20 PM. Reason : they would put one at one of the worst timed intersections]

3/13/2009 12:19:34 PM

Quote :

"Study: Red-light cameras decreasing wrecks in Cary Posted: Jan. 9, 2009 Updated: Mar. 9, 2009 Cary, N.C. — A study by an outside consultant shows that cameras at 15 Cary intersections have done a good job of catching red-light runners and reducing crashes. Cary began installing cameras in 2004 at intersections with high numbers of crashes and red-light violators. Since then, 77,564 drivers – including 18,205 in 2004 – have been ticketed for going through intersections while the traffic light was red. Some residents questioned whether red-light cameras increase safety or increase accidents. "You may try to go through the light because you're trying to avoid getting rear-ended," driver Bernard Scales, of Cary, said. A consultant hired by the camera system's private operator released a report showing that wrecks decreased at 12 of the 15 intersections with red-light cameras, while the crash rate increased at two intersections. The study compared crash rates for three years before and three years after the cameras were installed in 2004. The intersection of High House Road and Cary Parkway saw 50 percent fewer accidents. Walnut Street and Maynard Road had 70 percent fewer, and Harrison Avenue and Maynard Road was down 80 percent. However, at High House and Prestonwood roads, the number of rear-end wrecks quadrupled. Cary police defended the red-light cameras, saying that rise in wrecks could be caused by the increased number of cars going through the intersections. On the other hand, police argued, the red-light cameras cause motorists to drive more safely. "Everyone's driving behavior does get modified where they know the cameras are out there and they need to come to a complete stop," Chris Davis, records manager for Cary Police, said. Based on the study, town staffers recommending renewing the contract with Arizona-based RedFlex Traffic Systems after it expires in February. RedFlex is responsible for photographing violators, sending them the evidence and collecting fines. From the $50 fine, RedFlex gets $30, and the Wake County Public School System receives $20. Through the end of fiscal year 2008 on June 30, the program had sent $311,012 to WCPSS. The Cary red-light program operates under a special state law that exempts it from a North Carolina State Supreme Court ruling that localities must give 90 percent of the fines to schools. That ruling prompted many cities to shut down their camera systems when they could no longer keep enough money to pay the operators. Some drivers said they do not see value in the red-light cameras, while police praised their beneficial affects. "I can only say, for me, that I think it's not worth it," Scales said. "I do believe reducing crashes makes the town safer," Davis said."

http://www.wral.com/traffic/story/4281997/

3/13/2009 12:29:40 PM

gotta make up that budget deficit somehow.

3/13/2009 12:30:32 PM

^
I've heard these systems weren't generating any revenue in many cities, so they got rid of them.
Also, I've heard that you don't really have to pay the "ticket" you get in the mail.... anyone know about this?

[Edited on March 13, 2009 at 1:11 PM. Reason : ]

3/13/2009 1:11:29 PM

^ yeah that sounds false

3/13/2009 1:36:43 PM

Quote :

"Also, I've heard that you don't really have to pay the "ticket" you get in the mail.... anyone know about this?"

just protest the ticket. Say it wasn't you driving or whatever but they don't have the budget or resources to take each ticket to court so most of the time they will just drop it. Or at least that is what has happened with myself and like 4 friends....

3/13/2009 1:44:33 PM

Quote :

"I thought the state said red light cameras were a no go due to increases in vehicle accidents at these intersections... [Edited on March 13, 2009 at 12:20 PM. Reason : they would put one at one of the worst timed intersections]"

I thought they were a no go once they realized that, by law, they were required to give 60% (or some majority percentage) of the 'proceeds' to the schools. It simply wasn't the money generator they thought it would be. Maybe they figured out that if the schools got all this money from the lights they could then turn around and reduce the school's budget.

And yes, they would put it at the worst timed intersection. For safety/more profit. Take your pick.

Quote :

"Yay for Raleigh to emulate Cary."

Cary is beyond all hope. Ever notice the light cycles in Cary. They aren't the same as the light cycles anywhere else I've been. In 99% of the US the people turning left will get the green arrow, then the straightaways. In Cary it's entirely random. Sometimes first, sometime last, and occasionally not at all. You just have to wait a couple of cycles. It might have something to do with completely botched sensors. I don't know.

[Edited on March 13, 2009 at 1:46 PM. Reason : -]

3/13/2009 1:45:07 PM

Quote :

"In Cary it's entirely random."

Traffic signals cannot be programmed to be random.

During different times of the day, or days of the week, they can be programmed to ease traffic flow for different lanes.

It may seem random but it's not.

[Edited on March 13, 2009 at 1:55 PM. Reason : -]

3/13/2009 1:55:03 PM

Ok. It is programmed in a very, very poor fashion. Join the rest of the world. I sit at Cary lights just as long as I do anywhere else, many times it seems longer. Their clever -make the people turning left wait until the end- business isn't helping matters.

[Edited on March 13, 2009 at 2:08 PM. Reason : -]

3/13/2009 2:00:14 PM

That's funny because I'd say Cary has the best synchronized lights in the area. There's a lot you can complain about Cary but traffic signals aren't really one of them.

3/13/2009 2:19:00 PM

Quote :

"Traffic signals cannot be programmed to be random. "

if only they could--think of the possibilities...

3/13/2009 2:20:36 PM

are the schools REALLY getting that money? Some have mentioned before that the money just gets "tied up" somewhere in the system and the schools get zero.

I also wonder how the 6 year comparison was done. Cumulative number of accidents? Average number of accidents? etc. Big differences

3/13/2009 4:41:34 PM

Get caught and take it to trial.

3/13/2009 5:01:51 PM

Because there is no officer to "witness" the incident and prove that you were actually the one driving, the red-light camera tickets don't carry any points onto your license. So its pretty much on the same level as a parking ticket.

However in some other states (i.e. Arizona) there are red-light cameras that take a picture of the driver's face as you're running the red light. In those cases the tickets will probably be upheld in court because they can prove who the driver was. Plus they have speed cameras in the Phoenix metro area. Just be glad we aren't up to that point in North Carolina (yet).

On another note, I expect a sharp increase in the number of rear-end collisions at the Avent Ferry/Varisity intersection when people slam on their brakes to avoid a red light ticket.

3/13/2009 5:58:12 PM

Quote :

"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence."

3/13/2009 6:35:18 PM

^^ Yeah, there are enough fender benders near there already without a red light camera.

This should provide some early morning amusement for a while. People tailgate like fuck on that road and drive too fast to keep people from merging into the right lane. This is going to cause some hilarious car accidents.

3/13/2009 10:43:21 PM

Quote :

"That's funny because I'd say Cary has the best synchronized lights in the area. There's a lot you can complain about Cary but traffic signals aren't really one of them."

+1

ever notice those little black rectangular boxes on top of the lights at just about every intersection in cary? most of those are cameras that are linked via fiber back to cary central, where there are people who monitor them. we have it good, don't even start to complain.

Quote :

"Also, I've heard that you don't really have to pay the "ticket" you get in the mail.... anyone know about this?"

RedFlex has no jurisdiction over anywhere whatsoever, so the "tickets" they issue are just really documents asking you to pay them $50. the worst they can do is sic a collection agency on you and have it show up on your credit report.

3/13/2009 10:59:27 PM

and a collection on your credit report is going to cost more than 50 bucks in the long run

3/14/2009 7:04:17 AM

damn it all

put one up on avent ferry/western

or dan allen/hillsborough

one where people think that "no right on red" sign doesn't apply to them

3/14/2009 12:24:59 PM

You guys must be driving in a different part of Cary, because the lights in the part I drive in are all messed up.

[Edited on March 14, 2009 at 1:39 PM. Reason : r]

3/14/2009 1:31:11 PM

The intersection I think you are talking about is Walnut and Maynard, which is weird at night and will skip one direction making them go every other cycle instead. I'm guessing its programed to streamline the flow of Walnut but I can see where its frustrating. Other than that though, all other major roads are pretty well synchronized, granted soccer moms in minivans really try their hardest to disrupt it.

3/14/2009 2:23:00 PM

they are putting up cameras at New Bern Ave and the Beltline.

3/14/2009 6:24:54 PM

I think he's talking about the intersection of Kildaire and Tryon Roads in Cary. The left turn cycles after the straight lanes at that intersection.

3/14/2009 7:36:23 PM

maynard and chapel hill rd. is fucked up two, sometimes two cycles before a turn light

3/14/2009 8:56:24 PM

yeah, maynard and chapel hill is a legitimate intersection to bitch about, i'll give you that

the straight lane cycles only last like 10 seconds as well

3/14/2009 10:24:58 PM

as long as we don't start putting cameras everywhere like in charlotte, I don't mind a few here or there

and fuck the speed cameras

3/15/2009 11:36:13 AM

Quote :

" I've heard these systems weren't generating any revenue in many cities, so they got rid of them."

I believe this was the case in Chapel Hill.

3/15/2009 11:40:49 AM

Quote :

"Yay for Raleigh to emulate Cary."

there are one of these at the North Hills mall intersection.

3/15/2009 4:15:18 PM

I've gotten two of these "tickets" and never paid either. It's not on my credit.

3/15/2009 4:18:59 PM

^
I've heard the same from others.
Is it a ticket or just a bill? Does it threaten anything for non-payment?

[Edited on March 15, 2009 at 4:43 PM. Reason : 1500!]

3/15/2009 4:43:04 PM

maybe they just take it out of your state income tax teturn

they did it to my student loan back in 03

3/15/2009 5:48:47 PM

with all the money being made with this redlight shit, i dont see why i havent recieved my state tax check yet

3/15/2009 6:00:01 PM

?

there's a couple people in here who said it was losing money

3/15/2009 6:06:53 PM

cops catching papa johns delivery guys going 700mph through there would prevent a lot more accidents than red light cameras

3/15/2009 7:14:12 PM

just don't take away the bojangles

3/15/2009 7:53:22 PM

The photo cameras were blinking like strobe lights today in cary. I personally witnessed 7 citations.

CHA

CHING!

3/15/2009 8:02:50 PM

ya i love when im sitting at a light, esp like at crossroads where they are at every intersection, and just watching them go off.

3/15/2009 10:09:24 PM

hasn't there been one on hillsborough at dixie for several years, now?

3/15/2009 10:20:56 PM

Quote :

"Is it a ticket or just a bill? Does it threaten anything for non-payment?"

They make it seem as official as possible by getting a "police representative" to sign it (who could be anybody).

The kicker is when they say "oh you can protest it, but we won't listen until you pay first, and then we might refund you." And to protest, you have to go in front of the people who are making money off of this stuff.

The whole thing is a fucking scam. If they wanna come up to DC to make a claim on me for some BS red light tickets in Cary then come get me, assholes.

3/15/2009 11:38:30 PM

or

+



+

3/16/2009 8:02:55 AM

^ The bad thing is you probably could get someone around here to do that...

3/16/2009 8:17:45 AM

When my sister went to Greece, they said that the town installed a shitload of parking meters and all the citizens knocked them down repeatedly and the town gave up on them. [/run-on]

3/16/2009 9:19:48 AM

There definitely was one at Hillsborough/Dixie; I think the hardware is still there but I'm not sure if it's turned on anymore.

And the thing they need at Avent Ferry/Varsity is not a camera, but a damn turn-only signal! If you're sitting in the westbound lane of Varsity, trying to turn left onto Avent Ferry at any time when it's moderately busy, you're taking your life in your hands. Once it gets onto Centennial Varsity curves and goes downhill such that the cars opposite you, also waiting to turn left, block out the view of any cars that might be coming straight. There have been a number of times I've nearly turned into the path of an oncoming car that I could not see at all until it was almost too late.

3/16/2009 9:51:35 AM

Quote :

"CAMREA"

Sorry. Giggle.

3/16/2009 2:52:20 PM

tonight, the stop lights at that intersection were totally off, and they were out there working on the red light camera. im guessing they were syncing it with the red light. be prepared for it to be working tomorrow.

3/18/2009 1:17:31 AM

Quote :

"maynard and chapel hill rd. is fucked up two, sometimes two cycles before a turn light "

those roads meet up twice. ive never had a problem at the one with the exxon on the corner

3/18/2009 1:54:05 AM

Quote :

"And the thing they need at Avent Ferry/Varsity is not a camera, but a damn turn-only signal! If you're sitting in the westbound lane of Varsity, trying to turn left onto Avent Ferry at any time when it's moderately busy, you're taking your life in your hands. Once it gets onto Centennial Varsity curves and goes downhill such that the cars opposite you, also waiting to turn left, block out the view of any cars that might be coming straight. There have been a number of times I've nearly turned into the path of an oncoming car that I could not see at all until it was almost too late."

seconded

3/18/2009 11:48:13 AM

Any of you successfully used the plates/sprays that reflect the flash on these things with any success?

3/18/2009 2:51:43 PM

set em up

3/18/2009 2:54:04 PM