How useful are red light camerea POI

I am over here in central Florida where we have redlight cameras.Get plenty of alert notice before getting to the cameras.So if I run it after being notified its my fault. I don't run red lights but here in Florida I like to look in the rear view mirror to see how close they are following.With the alert I can start breaking early enough to keep from getting rear ended.They follow so close here you think they are in the rear passenger seat.

Sounds like you just got that feedback. What are you asking? The file doesn't stop the shortening the timing of the yellow timing to create more red light runners. It doesn't prevent private companies from taking ticket money that in some states is clearly flagged by law for other purposes, or prevent the obvious abuses that such a system will create. But it will warn you when you approach a camera intersection, the choice to drive cautiously or run the red light is still up to you.

Agree 100%.

The Red Light POI is very useful when traveling in a new area. You're probably a little distracted anyway, looking for something, a street to turn on, a hotel you're staying at, that you've never been to before... with the GPS' help, of course... and it's easy to miss the signs warning of a red light camera. The GPS alert gives you another heads up, and yes, start slowing down as you approach the light and be ready to stop if it turns yellow.

Of course the POI info is only as good as it is up-to-date. New lights go up, old ones get taken down, and sometimes the POI hasn't caught up yet. Be sure to submit corrections if you see a need.

As mentioned above the data is only as good as it is up-to-date. In the St. Louis area, as towns are stuggling to survive in this economic downturn the number of new cameras coming on line is amazing. In the last six months, a street near my work put up cameras at almost every major intersection.

There is no question that this is being profit modivated. One almost never sees signs being posted as tthese new cameras are added that indicate the intersection has photo radar.

Thanks everyone the feedback is well appreciated. Sounds like something I would want to invest in.

I'm also in NY - Long Island actually. Got a red light ticket in Manhattan back January (the old Quest didn't have an RLC file). I upgraded to a Nuvi 760 about a week later, and then found this site. A couple of days ago, I went through the intersection of Rockaway and Brookville Blvds near JFK. I knew it was an RLC location and wanted to test the GPS. Worked like a charm, and two blocks later, I got another RLC alert - I had no idea there was a second RLC in the area. I don't typically run red lights, but to me, it's well worth having the file on my GPS.

The best investment you could make. I also live on Long Island but travel to my in-laws in the city. It's always beeping me, so I save myself pently.

One of the most important things the Red Light POI tells you is that you're coming to an intersection that has been identified as a dangerous one, so you can notch up your caution levels.

It also serves as a warning that someone in front of you with the Red Light POI in THEIR GPS may suddenly brake.

I think of the Red Light poi as another
safety device like your seat belts

I think it's a safety device for your wallet too!

Would not live without them. My GPS is always on no matter where I go.

The RLC file alerts one to drive defensively through those intersections with the cameras; not getting a ticket is an added bonus.

In Chicagoland, even after much location research, if a camera isn't generating a certain quota of tickets, they will move it to another location. I think the minimum is 8 tickets per day, every day. Doesn't sound like they're worried about our safety as much as their pocketbooks.

Very useful, especially if you travel alot. Again like people said, it makes you aware that the light is somewhere.

Heck there all around me, wouldn't leave home without a GPS and Camera POI's. I personally like to know my surroundings at all times.

I believe your question has been more than answered, I live in Los Angeles where the city is required to post a large sign that informs you that you are approaching an intersection with a red light camera. I still generally have my gps in operation while traveling around the city, although I know all the ones on routes I travel regularly, I am amazed at how they pop up in areas I don't travel to regularly.

I think the rain is making them pop up like weeds...

In major metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Phoenix as well as many others too numerous to mention it would benefit any gps user for all the reasons given. I have a friend who purchased a gps just so she could have the red-light poi...

I have read and know of many who get citations for making a right turn with out coming to a complete stop at these intersections. The warning not only gives you an alert to be cautious it also wakes you to the fact that you have to come to a complete stop if you are turning right, which I all too often fail to do...

I can't have a gps without the red light POIs loaded.

I too use my GPS as mentioned by other forum posters as an additional safety tool. I never run red lights, even with right on red, I make the complete stop (as mandated by law) to the ire of those following behind me. The RLC POIs give me the extra edge to driving defensively and here in the Phoenix area that is a necessity not only because of the cameras, but the notoriously bad driving habits exhibited by winter visitors and locals alike.

We have a red light camera POI for our TomTom and it has an option to only warn you of cameras that are on your route. The red light POI from this site will warn of red lights even if you are on a highway overpass that is taking you above the intersections where the cameras are. Traveling through a large city on an Interstate, I received warning after warning of red light cameras that were below me and certainly not on the Interstate. Is there any fix for this? Thanks.

While we tend to associate a camera location to a particular intersection and facing a specified direction, the GPS only sees the point where the camera is located. It has no idea if the camera is facing any one direction, is 4 layers down in a massive interchange or any other information about the camera other than "I am at the point listed in my file."

One of the better tools available is from Genvoy, a user on the forums and our own Miss POI. The Beta file lists intersections and Genvoy's tool will also created a listing of cross streets based on the POI location. They at least let you know the camera is on the surface street rather than the limited access highway.

Short answer - no the GPS has no idea where the camera is located other than at this designated position on the earth.