Red light camera watch: Hello, Amarillo!

At some point I'm going to have to ask if there's anyplace left in Texas that doesn't have red light cameras.

Amarillo city commissioners approved installing red-light cameras at five intersections Tuesday after debating whether the cameras will increase rear-end vehicle collisions for a period of time.

Four of the intersections approved will require the approval of the Texas Department of Transportation before American Traffic Solutions, which won the red-light contract in August, can install the cameras.

Vicki Covey, director of community services, said at least two cameras will be online and sending out warnings in May.

[...]

Mayor Debra McCartt got fired up during the work session while discussing the motives behind red-light cameras.

"It's not about money. This is about safety," McCartt said.

The intersections recommended by the city's traffic director were not based on red-light violations. The city left off the intersection at Grand Street and East Interstate 40 frontage road, which had the highest number of violations in an eight-hour period, because it had a low accident and injury rate.

City staff avoided several other intersections with high numbers of violations to monitor intersections with high accident rates.

Focusing on intersections with high accident rates instead of high red light violation rates...it's almost like this were about safety and not revenue, or something like that. Very clever, Amarillo, very clever. Link via Texas Politics.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on January 27, 2008 to Planes, Trains, and Automobiles