c******i
发帖数: 94 | 1 老新闻了，提个醒。
http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/316418/250/10-News-
TAMPA BAY, Fla. -- A subtle, but significant tweak to Florida's rules
regarding traffic signals has allowed local cities and counties to shorten
yellow light intervals, resulting in millions of dollars in additional red
light camera fines.
The 10 News Investigators discovered the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) quietly changed the state's policy on yellow intervals
in 2011, reducing the minimum below federal recommendations. The rule
change was followed by engineers, both from FDOT and local municipalities,
collaborating to shorten the length of yellow lights at key intersections,
specifically those with red light cameras (RLCs).
TIMELINE: 10 News' Short Yellows Investigation
UPDATE: FDOT announces change to lights statewide
MAP: Short yellows in your neighborhood
While yellow light times were reduced by mere fractions of a second,
research indicates a half-second reduction in the interval can double the
number of RLC citations -- and the revenue they create. The 10 News
investigation stemmed from a December discovery of a dangerously short
yellow light in Hernando County. After the story aired, the county promised
to re-time all of its intersections, and the 10 News Investigators promised
to dig into yellow light timing all across Tampa Bay.
Red light cameras generated more than $100 million in revenue last year in
approximately 70 Florida communities, with 52.5 percent of the revenue going
to the state. The rest is divided by cities, counties, and the camera
companies. In 2013, the cameras are on pace to generate $120 million.
"Red light cameras are a for-profit business between cities and camera
companies and the state," said James Walker, executive director of the
nonprofit National Motorists Association. "The (FDOT rule-change) was done,
I believe, deliberately in order that more tickets would be given with
yellows set deliberately too short."
The National Motorists Association identifies itself as a grassroots group
that's been advocating for drivers since 1982. It fought the national 55 mph
speed limit and is now campaigning against red light camera technology,
contending the technology primarily targets safe drivers who are victims of
short yellow lights or safely roll through right turns.
Proponents of the technology hang their hats on a reduction of serious
accidents at RLC intersections. They also point out that every
electronically generated violation is reviewed by a local police officer or
sheriff's deputy before a citation is validated and sent to a driver. But
questions about the fairness and constitutionality of RLCs linger, with
questionable motivations of the state's yellow light reductions likely to
add fuel to the fire.
FDOT CHANGES THE RULES
Yellow light times are calculated by a complex formula that takes into
account variables such as the size of an intersection, the incline/decline
of the roadway, driver reaction time, and deceleration rate. But ultimately,
the proper intervals come down to a driver's approach speed.
When the Florida legislature approved 2010's Mark Wandell Act, regulating
red light cameras across the state, FDOT had a long-standing rule that
mandated yellow light calculations factor in either the posted speed limit
or 85th percentile of drivers' actual speed -- whichever was greater. The
point of the law was to calculate safe stopping times for the majority of
drivers on any given roadway.
But in 2011, FDOT struck the "whichever is greater" language from its
Traffic Engineering Manual (TEM), reducing minimum yellow light lengths and
allowing communities to re-time their signals at RLC intersections.
The 10 News Investigators found a number of communities shortened their
already-safe intervals to the new minimums. In some cases, FDOT mandated
longer yellow lights, but seemingly only at intersections that hadn't been
in compliance for years. Around Greater Tampa Bay, the yellow interval
reductions typically took place at RLC intersections and corridors filled
with RLC cameras.
FDOT's change in language may have been subtle, but the effects were quite
significant. The removal of three little words meant the reduction of yellow
light intervals of up to a second, meaning drastically more citations for
drivers. A 10 News analysis indicates the rule change is likely costing
Florida drivers millions of dollars a year.
"I think it's immoral to do that," Walker said. "You're basically punishing
safe drivers with deliberately improper engineering. That's not moral to me."
But FDOT claims it had no financial motive to shorten yellow lights; the
agency doesn't receive any direct payments from RLC fines. The state's
portion of each $158 citation is split between its General Revenue Fund ($70
), the Department of Health Administrative Trust Fund ($10), and Spinal Cord
Injury Trust Fund ($3).
FDOT Traffic Operations engineer Mark Wilson said the agency was merely
cleaning up language in its TEM to match federal guidelines. But 10 News
found Florida's rules were already in compliance with federal guidelines,
and there are no federal suggestions discouraging the use of "whichever is
greater." FDOT is also ignoring numerous other federal guidelines (see below
) that encourage longer yellow intervals.
The 10 News Investigators showed Wilson the emails from FDOT engineers in
Tampa Bay, obtained through public records requests, instructing Pasco
County officials in February 2012 to reduce the yellow light intervals on U.
S. 19 from the already-short 4.5 seconds to the bare minimum 4.3 seconds.
Wilson said he was not aware of the instructions and the engineer, who has
since retired, misunderstood the purpose of the rule change.
"Those are (only) minimums. So some of the engineers said, 'Well, it's got
to be that exact number.' That's not true. It has to be at least that number
," Wilson said.
Wilson added that original language of the Mark Wandell Act required
communities to perform engineering studies before installing RLCs, in order
to comply with federal recommendations and determine drivers' actual
approach speeds. But the requirement never made it into the final bill,
allowing communities to install RLCs without any consideration of drivers'
actual speed or the time it would take them to stop safely.
FLORIDA IGNORING NATIONAL STANDARDS, OPTING FOR SHORTER YELLOWS
Numerous U.S. Dept. of Transportation (USDOT) documents provide guidance to
municipalities on how to install and operate RLC intersections. But FDOT and
Florida communities are by-and-large ignoring those recommendations when it
comes to yellow light intervals.
A USDOT/Federal Highway Administration (FHA) report said cities should not
use speed limit in the yellow interval equation because it results "in more
red light violations and higher crash rates." And if drivers' average speeds
cannot be calculated, it's recommended engineers use the "speed limit plus
10 mph" variable to producing more conservative, and safer, yellow intervals.
Another report stresses the importance of using 85th percentile speed to
calculate yellow intervals, while slide 28 on this report indicates when
yellow light times are lengthened, severe crashes drop.
USDOT also recommends an extra half-second of yellow time at intersections
with lots of trucks or elderly drivers to allow them to react safely. And
despite the fact that Greater Tampa Bay is home to five of the nation's 12
oldest counties (by median age), it's also home to some of the shortest
yellow lights.
"I'm not a law-breaker," said Pasco County retiree Shirley Nagle, who got a
red light violation on U.S. 19 after more than five decades without a
traffic citation.
Nagle entered the RLC intersection about half a second too late in February,
and was issued a $158 ticket, which soon became a $262 fine after she didn'
t pay it immediately. She told 10 News that she spent 32 years working in
the New Jersey courts system and would never break the law. She was just
proceeding through the intersection because she thought it was the safest
option for her.
"It's terrible," she said of Port Richey's RLCs and short yellow lights. "I
think they're cheating the people!"
Wilson told 10 News that FDOT would likely approve any city's request to add
a half-second to yellow light times to allow older drivers more time to
react and safely stop, but none have.
Wilson also says FDOT is in the process of increasing the "Perception
Reaction Time" variable in its statewide yellow light formulas from 1.0 to 1
.3 seconds. That would add the 1/3 of a second to yellow light intervals
statewide, to better accommodate Florida drivers.
SHORTER YELLOWS: WHO'S DOING IT?
FDOT's revised TEM provides bare minimum yellow light intervals for RLC
intersections, based on speed limit. While the formula can fluctuate if the
approach grade isn't flat, no consideration is mandated for drivers' actual
approach speed:
Approach Speed Yellow Interval
25 mph
3.0 sec
30 mph
3.2 sec
35 mph
3.6 sec
40 mph
4.0 sec
45 mph
4.3 sec
50 mph
4.7 sec
55 mph
5.0 sec
60 mph
5.4 sec
65 mph
5.8 sec
But 10 News found numerous communities using , or skirting, the minimums:
Port Richey, New Port Richey, and FDOT collaborated to reduce yellow light
times along U.S. 19 from 4.5 seconds to the bare minimum, 4.3 seconds.
An FDOT analyst instructed New Port Richey to reduce its yellow light
interval for the Main St. RLC (at U.S. 19) from 4.0 seconds to the bare
minimum, 3.0 seconds.
Hillsborough County shortened the yellow interval on Bell Shoals Road (at
Bloomingdale) in Valrico from 4.0 seconds to the bare minimum, 3.6 seconds.
Tampa has yellow lights below the state's 4.0-second minimum for 45mph zones
at Hillsborough/Nebraska and Adamo/50th. Those RLC intersections turn red
after just 3.9 seconds; city engineers claim the complex yellow light
formula allows them to go below the TEM minimums.
St. Petersburg had yellow intervals that were shorter than FDOT minimums,
but alert resident Matt Florell pointed them out and the city fixed them.
Florell said thousands of citations were issued inappropriately, while a
city engineer said four intersections had slight "malfunctions," where the
yellow lights were only off by 0.1 seconds. Either way, ticketed drivers
were not notified of the issues and no refunds were offered.
Oldsmar had a similar issue, where its intersection at Tampa Rd. and SR-580
(State St.) was improperly timed. The yellow light was just 3.0 seconds
instead of 4.3 seconds. When the problem was addressed last fall, citations
plummeted by 90 percent. But no notices, or refunds, went out to ticketed
drivers.
FDOT's new rules didn't shorten every RLC intersection's yellow lights; many
cities and counties had lights that were so far out of compliance the new
minimums actually increased the intervals. Tampa and Hillsborough County
both increased some intersections in recent years, but most in their
jurisdictions remain at the bare minimum.
St. Petersburg city councilman Charlie Gerdes has also been pushing his city
to lengthen its yellow intervals, about half of which are at the state
minimum, but Gerdes has had trouble getting the entire council to follow him
on the issue.
RED LIGHT CAMERA SAFETY
Although RLC critics dispute it, 10 News found a bevy of data that suggests
the technology changes drivers' behavior and reduces serious crash rates.
And everywhere new RLC programs start generating revenue for cities, the
elected leaders behind the program tout its safety benefits.
But there are few tangible safety benefits to short yellow lights. In fact,
they appear to have the opposite effects; according to the USDOT and FHA,
short yellow lights raise crash rates.
"A one second increase in yellow time results in 40 percent decrease in
severe red light related crashes," the report said.
Jim Walker said shortening a driver's window for reacting to a yellow light
creates more difficult split-second decisions, which can lead to more rear
end collisions too. And he contends most serious accidents aren't coming
from the "innocent driver" who gets caught by a short yellow. They're caused
by blatant red light runners who will run a light regardless of yellow
light length.
But Charles Territo, spokesperson for American Traffic Solutions (ATS), one
of the country's largest red light camera operators, said there is no need
to extend yellow light lengths since "innocent red light runners" don't
exist.
"I think that's probably an oxymoron," Territo said. "There is (no) such
thing as safely running a red light."
Territo said RLCs have made intersections safer for non-motorists too.
Florida cities routinely top national lists for "worst cities" for
pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Territo contends adding length to yellow lights may have a short-term
benefit, but points to research that suggests, over time, some drivers will
adjust to the longer yellows and continue to run red lights. However, there
is just as much data to contradict Territo's theory.
"Rear-end crashes are not caused by red light cameras," Territo added. "They
're caused by distracted driving."
RLC REFORM STRUGGLES IN TALLAHASSEE
After RLC reforms were shot down in legislative committees for a third
straight year, State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, snuck some late
reforms onto a highway bill in the closing days of the 2013 session. The
bill, HB 7125, awaits Governor Rick Scott's signature.
Among the changes: right turn violations will be harder to issue; violators
may request a hearing within 60 days (previously 30 days, and no hearing was
permitted); and more legal protections were put in place for drivers
looking to challenge the citation.
READ: Pinellas Clerk Ken Burke's letter applauding RLC reforms
READ: RLC critic opposes Brandes bill
But reforms have been few and far between for RLC laws, largely because of
the industry's massive lobbying presence. State disclosures indicate ATS has
spent more than a million dollars lobbying in Florida alone, while its also
donated more than half a million dollars to Florida politicians directly.
"They're almost everywhere," Brandes said of ATS lobbyists in Tallahassee.
This year, a bill by Sen. Joseph Abruzzo, D-Wellington, would have prevented
municipalities from using posted speed limit in the yellow interval formula
, but the legislation was gutted by Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth. Clemens
is a long-time camera proponent who has accepted $1,000 in direct donations
from ATS in recent years.
"I agree, (longer yellow intervals) may create a safer traffic situation in
the short-term, when people are not used to having longer yellows," Clemens
said. "(But) as soon as they get used to the fact that those yellows last
longer, more people are going to be trying to run the red lights."
Clemens said he just wants the state to follow national standards. But he
also admitted RLCs have allowed states to create new revenue streams without
raising taxes.
Territo and ATS said they have no role in issuing the tickets in Florida; a
local officer or deputy must review and confirm each individual violation.
But RLCs are a $120 million/year business in Florida, and shorter yellow
lights threaten the revenue stream.
In Georgia, a 2009 law that mandated longer yellow lights practically
eradicated RLC programs across the state. Many municipalities saw violations
drop by 80-90%. Similar drops were seen in Oldsmar, Fla. and Milton, Fla.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I'M CAUGHT RUNNING A RED?
10 News cannot provide legal advice, but you may have grounds to appeal an
automated citation for a variety of reasons. If you believe you were
ticketed because of a short yellow light, you may want to:
Go online to review your ticket and record the video with a cell phone or
other recording device.
Going frame-by-frame, detemine if the yellow light failed to last as long as
mandated by the TEM chart posted above. Also note how long the light was
red before you entered the intersection.
You may be able to appeal if you can prove the yellow light was too short
and you would have normally made it through a normal yellow light.
Even if the length of the yellow light meets the minimum, you may still be
able to appeal if the yellow intervals are too short for drivers' actual
average approach speed. The national suggestions posted above indicate safe
stopping speed should be considered when planning RLC placements and yellow
light times.
But ultimately, the choice to appeal is yours and as the law stands, the
mere act of contesting the violation could cause your fine to surge from $
158 to $264 -- even if you did nothing wrong.
Find 10 News Investigator Noah Pransky on Facebook or follow his updates on
Twitter. Send your story tips to n**[email protected].
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发帖数: 55301 | 2 第一，你要理解，郡政府也是需要财政收入的，不是从罚单里来，就是从税收里来。
第二，黄灯时间减少，就意味着侧面AMG起步提速撞你侧门的时间也缩短了。
第三，命只有一条，你不珍惜你自己的别人更不会珍惜你自己的。
intervals
【在 c******i 的大作中提到】
: 老新闻了，提个醒。
: http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/316418/250/10-News-
: TAMPA BAY, Fla. -- A subtle, but significant tweak to Florida's rules
: regarding traffic signals has allowed local cities and counties to shorten
: yellow light intervals, resulting in millions of dollars in additional red
: light camera fines.
: The 10 News Investigators discovered the Florida Department of
: Transportation (FDOT) quietly changed the state's policy on yellow intervals
: in 2011, reducing the minimum below federal recommendations. The rule
: change was followed by engineers, both from FDOT and local municipalities,
| t**x
发帖数: 20965 | 3 我说政府拍照抢钱，这个版上颇有SB指责，这些人得多弱智。
intervals
【在 c******i 的大作中提到】
: 老新闻了，提个醒。
: http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/316418/250/10-News-
: TAMPA BAY, Fla. -- A subtle, but significant tweak to Florida's rules
: regarding traffic signals has allowed local cities and counties to shorten
: yellow light intervals, resulting in millions of dollars in additional red
: light camera fines.
: The 10 News Investigators discovered the Florida Department of
: Transportation (FDOT) quietly changed the state's policy on yellow intervals
: in 2011, reducing the minimum below federal recommendations. The rule
: change was followed by engineers, both from FDOT and local municipalities,
| z**n
发帖数: 22303 | 4 看不懂第二条逻辑何在，愿闻其详。黄灯时间根据车速定，限速五十五的道路弄个三秒
黄灯只会导致事故频发。
【在 m********s 的大作中提到】
: 第一，你要理解，郡政府也是需要财政收入的，不是从罚单里来，就是从税收里来。
: 第二，黄灯时间减少，就意味着侧面AMG起步提速撞你侧门的时间也缩短了。
: 第三，命只有一条，你不珍惜你自己的别人更不会珍惜你自己的。
:
: intervals
| g********b
发帖数: 8461 | 5 都是些左棍们舔大ZF，认为ZF做的什么都是对的，P民就应该顺从。
【在 t**x 的大作中提到】
: 我说政府拍照抢钱，这个版上颇有SB指责，这些人得多弱智。
:
: intervals
| c******i
发帖数: 94 | 6 p民不懂,政府为了多发罚单,就应该刻意修改规则,让黄灯的时间低于联邦政府的建议值
,而且更低于物理学上的刹车时间?政府没有财政收入,是不是应该减少支出?
刹车时间更短,是要人命?还是更安全?时间太短要是没有刹住呢?要是刹的太急失控了呢
?被追尾了?
p民只是发发牢骚,不会影响你的工作,不用担心被裁掉.
【在 m********s 的大作中提到】
: 第一，你要理解，郡政府也是需要财政收入的，不是从罚单里来，就是从税收里来。
: 第二，黄灯时间减少，就意味着侧面AMG起步提速撞你侧门的时间也缩短了。
: 第三，命只有一条，你不珍惜你自己的别人更不会珍惜你自己的。
:
: intervals
| m********s
发帖数: 55301 | 7 侧面等红灯变绿灯的full size SUV，就等着绿灯一亮就大油门冲出去。
【在 z**n 的大作中提到】
: 看不懂第二条逻辑何在，愿闻其详。黄灯时间根据车速定，限速五十五的道路弄个三秒
: 黄灯只会导致事故频发。
| m********s
发帖数: 55301 | 8 来，限速五十五的道路弄个三秒黄灯。
请明确说出此具体路口，是哪个方向的灯，路的路名，所在州、郡、city。
不用多了，3条就够，英文的。
谢谢。
限速55的道路，你是说时速55英里，不是米吧？
【在 z**n 的大作中提到】
: 看不懂第二条逻辑何在，愿闻其详。黄灯时间根据车速定，限速五十五的道路弄个三秒
: 黄灯只会导致事故频发。
| m********s
发帖数: 55301 | 9 限速最好。
原来是50限速的应该改为35。
原来是35限速的应该改为20。
依次类推。
【在 c******i 的大作中提到】
: p民不懂,政府为了多发罚单,就应该刻意修改规则,让黄灯的时间低于联邦政府的建议值
: ,而且更低于物理学上的刹车时间?政府没有财政收入,是不是应该减少支出?
: 刹车时间更短,是要人命?还是更安全?时间太短要是没有刹住呢?要是刹的太急失控了呢
: ?被追尾了?
: p民只是发发牢骚,不会影响你的工作,不用担心被裁掉.
|
|
