Gov. Baker rolled out a comprehensive road-safety-improvement legislation that includes a proposal we think makes sense: cameras set to catch red-light scofflaws.
Most drivers run a red light in their motoring career, and most feel twinges of guilt and relief at the realization they have avoided an accident and dodged being pulled over by the police.
According to a State House News Service report, the decline in car travel in 2020 triggered by the pandemic did not translate into a decline in roadway deaths. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said more than 300 communities in the United States already use red-light cameras; what’s more, studies indicate they have been “instrumental in reducing dangerous accidents and roadway deaths.”
Acting Transportation Secretary Jamey Tesler added: “Studies have shown consistently that drivers tend to run reds at non-camera locations less when other locations have cameras.”
Baker’s red-light camera proposal is a local option, meaning cities and towns would decide if they want the cameras and the fine revenue generated by ticketing violators. The cameras would be restricted to snapping license-plate photos of vehicles running lights or making illegal turns.
Registered owners of the offending vehicle would be fined up to $25 — an amount large enough to get someone’s attention while making, in most cases, a minor dent in the driver’s wallet.
But at $25 a pop, the fines add up fast for revenue-starved communities, potentially taking pressure off taxpayers.
Critics have branded red-light cameras as a privacy intrusion and a government money grab. But cameras make sense in heavily-populated areas like Greater Boston. The local option provision includes a limitation on cameras, with no more than one installed for every 2,500 residents. This means Lynn would have roughly 40 cameras if city officials adopted the local option. By contrast, Lynnfield might have one camera, or none.
As any new driver can tell you, good driving skills are learned and practiced until they become habits. Most drivers obey the law, but chronic violators who treat traffic rules with impunity should be red-flagged and fined.
Ultimately, it’s about safety on our roads.
