Cameras as security theatre
Techdirt and Slashdot comment that some people have placed images of license plates belonging to people they are not fond of on their own cars, then speeding by photo radar, resulting in the other person getting a ticket.
Techdirt’s spin on this:
In general, we have trouble with things like speed cameras and red light cameras — both of which don’t tend to do much of anything to make the roads safer (rather, there’s evidence that they lead to more accidents). The reality is that they are really about boosting revenue for local governments, not about safety — which explains why plenty of places have been found illegally changing parameters to make them bring in more revenue.
David, why did you quote the Techdirt position on traffic surveillance cameras without commenting about it? I think that the assertion that cameras lead to more “accidents” is total poppycock and I’ll need to see substantial evidence before I’m prepared to even consider it. It’s been my observation that most collisions are caused by driver inattention and/or recklessness, and that things like cameras, speed traps (either real or dummy), police stings, etc. do influence drivers to slow down. So I don’t care what motivates local governments to employ those strategies, just so long as they do them. As for disreputable tactics to bring in more revenue, that’s why I’m a strong advocate of government transparency and citizen oversight.
Comment by Greg Fowler — December 23, 2008 @ 9:56 am