Monday, September 13, 2010

It's About Bloody Time

When I moved to Vancouver in the '70s I was astonished at how many drivers ran red lights.   A colleague explained to me that, to Vancouverites, a red light was just "one man's opinion."  Cars ran'em, trucks ran'em, even city buses regularly ran red lights.

When I had visitors from the east I would warn them that, walking or driving, when the light turned green they should wait a full second, then look left and right, and proceed only if there wasn't someone running the red.   That's what I did and it saved my neck plenty of times.

Finally the provincial motor vehicle insurance agency has announced it will be installing 140-digital, "red light" cameras at problem intersections throughout the city.   $167 tickets will be issued to owners of vehicles caught on camera.

It's not as effective as giving motorists points on their licences but it's vastly better than nothing.

4 comments:

  1. And we won't even think of discussing Vancouver drivers and the behaviour they demonstrate at a STOP sign.

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  2. Kind of ironic coming from someone who does not like the surveillance society... or is that somehow different?

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  3. Oh dear, do you really think traffic light cameras are hallmarks of a surveillance society?

    These cameras certainly don't intrude on anyone's rights as driving is well established as a privilege, not a right. And it's very much a revocable privilege at that.

    Besides, I'm far more concerned about other peoples' rights to safely cross on green lights free of jerks who run red lights.

    Furthermore, as I understand it the tickets will be assigned to the owner of the licensed vehicle. The identity of the driver isn't an issue.

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