Observations and Opinions

Yes I too have notice how much nicer it is to drive the freeways here also. I don't go to the mesa area much but have taken on more calls in that direction cause of the smother running freeways.

I think that rather depends on the purpose of the cameras.

If they're there to control traffic speed and stop red light runners then there should be lots of signage with ruddy great signs in big red letters.

Of course if they're just there to grab a few more bucks off drivers then dump the signs altogether.

I don't disagree with you that people shouldn't speed.

However I disagree with you that the cameras should stay. I'd rather see more police officers out there enforcing the law than the cameras. The cameras make mistakes and do not allow one to "confront the accuser" as our justice system is based on.

In fact the county attorney office will not go after speeders caught by camera: http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2009/02/...

It's a money making scheme. I'd rather have real police officers out there who can use their presence to not only catch speeders, but people who tailgate, swerve from lane to lane, and road-ragers.

Ramcruzer- are you starting to see benefits from the cameras? Driving you a little less "crazy" now?

Nuvic- you can face your accuser. It's the state. If it were a police officer, he's not the accuser, that state still is, he's just a witness for the state. With the cameras there is no witness, just a photo of the infraction. Right there in black and white (or full color if that's what they have.)

I'm sure if they (LEOs) saturated the roads to catch the speeders, tailgaters and otherwise erratic drivers the comments would just turn to, "don't they have anything better to do than just ticket people for speeding? There're people commiting murders. Why don't you go catch them and not worry so much about the speeders??"

One last thing... there is lots of signage on every road. They're rectangular. White with a black border and black letters and numbers. All of them say "SPEED LIMIT..."

I have a friend in SoCal who told me those signs (White with a black border and black letters and numbers. All of them say "SPEED LIMIT...")are for tourists. But that's in California. You're talking about Arizona. I don't really believe him anyway.

Since I figured out how the file works, it is a pleasure to cruze the freeway with out the alert going off so often. I even have taken the files and totaly redid them with location and exact latitudes & longitudes more accurate now no delays or false alerts.

Try it you'll like it

I've always thought that if it were only about safety, and not making money, they should have marked patrol cars - driving at the speed limit - cruising up and down the highways.

There's a place for speed and redlight cameras. However, they need to be implemented fairly and consistently with the goal of improving traffic flow and safety. For example:

1. Start with residential neihborhoods and school zones.
2. Absolutely no money should pass to any private company! If the jurisdiction can't afford to install the system, don't install it. Pay for it over time, OK, but no "per ticket" revenue.
3. Yellow light timing needs to be standardized.
4. Post a realistic speed limit. If the reasonable traffic flow speed is 40, but the posted limit is 25, you can't just put up cameras and turn your back. The limit needs to make sense for the location.

Just my .02

I work with a lot of traffic engineers and they state since the last time anyone seriously looked at speed limits and compared them to the current road designs and safety improvements in cars is long overdue.

Most speed limits are based on design practices and the ability of automobiles to stop and corner from the mid 1950s when the Interstate system started being built. When you get into residential areas, that is a whole different set of variables from what is used on highways. As an example, see if you can locate a copy of your locale's traffic laws and see when things such as the prima facia or basic speed ordinance was set. It probably dates back to around 1950 also. That's something you can take to the council or other governing body and ask them to have the transportation people look into resetting the basic limit.

the new State Committee for Nannyism and Looking Over Your Shoulder appreciates your acceptance and co-operation!

Two Americas, an idea whose time has arrived!

Regards, Ted

Someone mentioned something about having more officers out on the roads enforcing the traffic laws instead of the cameras. I occasionally like to put my foot to the floor and in all my years of driving the only thing I've ever been ticketed for is speeding. I have never been in an accident, nor do I feel that I have ever put anyone else in danger when I may have been exceeding the speed limit. I always use my turn signals, stay within my lane, follow at a safe distance, and so on. It's actually those types of offenses that I would like to see enforced more often. The really bad drivers on the road should be getting ticketed, not just drivers who exceed the speed limit. I hate the red light and speed cameras and any other type of traffic law "enforcement" that is solely for revenue, despite what city/county/state officials say.

Here are some interesting links from Car and Driver:

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performan...

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/columns/c_d_columns/rob...

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/columns/c_d_columns/tra...

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/columns/c_d_columns/the...

I've noticed that the speeds on the 101 at the top of the loop in the west valley have calmed down. However, on I-10 through downtown and towards the west side I sometimes feel like I'll be run over doing the speed limit. This is at 2 in the afternoon!!

While I have issues with the cameras I have larger issues with the lack of officers to cite drivers who tailgate, change lanes erratically, swerve and weave because they are doing a myriad of things other than focusing on driving.

Let's also not leave out the lazy idiots who fail to secure their loads and have equipment and other items come off of their vehicles while traveling out roads. That offense gets you a $100 fine..almost half the cost of the speed cameras...Raise the fine and enforce that one!

I drove from Goodyear Az to Sky Harbor Airport and back today on I-10. Most of the observations that I started this thread with still exist.
The drive was at mid day with moderate traffic. The difference this time was the presence of motorcycle and marked squad cars. Between speed cameras I saw 5 cars pulled over by the police.....
Those of you that wished for real police giving tickets instead of cameras might be getting your wish.

Couldn't agree more.
My windshield was hit on the 202 by .... a windshield that flew off a small truck and "exploded" on the freeway just in front of me. Needless to say, I need a new windshield!!!

i saw the amount of cameras in Arizona on my news station last week, it's insane the with the amount of cameras there are out there.

Chaspoi,

In your original post, under the heading of opinion, you state "Sheriff “Joe” would not eliminate cameras in Maricopa county!"

As a full-time resident of Tempe for the past 40 years, I cannot recall Sheriff "Joe" commenting on these cameras either for or against installation or removal.

It seems to me that Arizona DPS, Scottsdale and the state legislature have all been involved in some form or another, but I missed Sheriff Joe or MCSO being involved. Maricopa County seems to have allowed other municipalities to take the lead in this. I know at one time MCSO did some mobile enforcement on Loop 303 but that was not with static camera locations.

Did I miss it? Can you point me to a media source?

I do agree that the cameras have "tamed" the wild traffic, but it seems only in close proximity to the cameras. I like the "live" enforcement for those who think they are at Daytona or another NASCAR venue instead of driving on one of the freeways in the Valley of the Sun.

Happy Motoring!

Please understand..... The "Sheriff Joe" comment was under my "opinion" section.
The good sheriff has other things on his mind right now. Sorry for the confusion.