The traffic focus of the Woodstock Police Department in February is violations of center lane usage and medians in Woodstock.
Woodstock Police probably don't have a ticket quota, but maybe they should have one. If they did, they could meet it easily in several locations on northbound Route 47. One of them is from the Citgo station by Burger King to the bp station at the light by McDonald's. Another is in front of the Shell station (just south of Wendy's), where drivers blast past stopped cars to enter the left turn lane at the light at Judd St./Irving Ave. I have seen northbound violators as far south as the front of Ace Hardware.
The problem is, while an officer is writing one ticket, five-to-ten more violations occur. Would a solution be a change in traffic laws and use of mobile photo enforcement? You know - a Big Brother approach? (I can hear the screams already.) Big Brother just catches the violators, so what's the problem with that?
Change the laws to make the vehicle owner also responsible for the operation of his vehicle, and then just mail the ticket and attached video to the owner of the vehicle. Post it; enforce it; and watch the violations drop off. Result? Safer roads for all of us.
It's working with red-light cameras. Why not expand the use to center-lane violators?
You never know who is interested…
3 months ago
5 comments:
Add to that the car haulers that park and unload in the ribbed or yellow lane median [Rt47] by Benoy Motors.
Or the ones park anywhere and direction they please on Southview Dr. to unload for Bull Valley Ford.
Both of these practices have been going on for years.
It's working with red light cameras... Define "working".
I believe there is higher compliance with traffic signals where red-light cameras are installed. Drivers approach with more caution and reduced speeds; the number of tickets is dropping.
Publicity results in fewer crashes and more drivers actually stopping before turning right on red.
The number of rear-end crashes is reduced by drivers slowing on stale yellow lights and monitoring the following-distance of cars behind them. I know that I have rolled forward to avoid being struck from behind by a driver who otherwise would have run a stale yellow turning to red.
Your 'belief' and warm-fuzzies are not the same as hard numbers. The numbers I have seen that say the cameras are working decline to use rear-end collisions in their stats and rely solely on side-impact collisions. The companies who administer the system (and make a hefty profit off it) would be happier if the cameras DID NOT work since higher compliance means decreased revenues. Those companies are more likely to push for installation of cameras where there is both a high rate of non-compliance and a greater liklihood of continued non-compliance. Municipalities that buy in to the folly would be wise to do the same. Where exactly would you put the cameras to achieve center lane compliance? The ACLU would probably be interested in that info as well.
While the officer is writingone ticket five-to-ten more violations occur. How often have you seen that? Please stick to this lifetime.
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