Short Yellows

File this one under "Obvious." What hadn't struck me thought is that the solution is in extending the yellow but as the op-ed explains that would defeat the point.

From the Wall Stree Journal...

Laid to rest long ago should have been the pretense that the goal [of stop light cameras] is "safety," not chasing cash. New York State, sinking under budget shortfalls, last week authorized a batch of new red-light cameras around the state.

Stop-light cameras are especially pernicious. Where red-light running is a problem, the solution is usually a longer yellow -- at least three seconds is the recommended minimum for a 25-mph intersection. Drivers do not blast through red lights on purpose. Even the federal government encourages the use of engineering solutions before installing a red-light camera.

Yet as the late and lamented Rocky Mountain News found when Denver was sizing up intersections for cameras a year ago, many of those deemed accident-prone had yellows timed at the state minimum of three seconds or even less. Citizen groups around the country have more than once raised suspicions of authorities shortening yellows to ring up more tickets. Half a dozen Georgia towns just cancelled their camera contracts after a state law mandating the addition of an extra second to the yellow made them unprofitable.

At least drivers aren't at a complete disadvantage. This website can arm you with a list of the stop-light and speed cameras in your city. In DC alone there are at least 51 stop light camers and another 29 speed cameras...shocking!