Crash Video Puts Spotlight on Dangers of Red-Light Running

[Hum]

A controversy over red light cameras installed at intersections in towns across New Jersey has been further inflamed after the borough of Roselle Park released a video showing a horrific crash.

The video, released by traffic safety firm American Traffic Solutions and posted on its website, shows a driver running a red light at an intersection, hitting an oncoming car, careening into a divider and being thrown airborne, turning 360 degrees before eventually coming to rest.

"There are a lot a people who don't think that running a red light is a problem," spokesman Charles Territo of American Traffic Solutions told ABC News. "Rarely do people see the actual crash occurring, and the violence and the drama that accompanies it is something that everyone should see."

Installed in 2009, the cameras are supposed to be a safety measure designed to deter drivers from speeding through yellow and red lights. Instead they have been a source of controversy, yielding millions of dollars in fines for municipalities and saddling drivers with tickets that many view as difficult to challenge and even unconstitutional.

Motorists complain they are not being given enough time to get through intersections, and many believe the program is essentially a money grab. One New Jersey woman was given a $140 ticket for making it through an intersection 1/5 of a second too late.

But Roselle Park Police Chief Paul Morrison defends the program. "It's unfortunate that the public views it as nothing more than an revenue instrument. The reason I had it put in place is because of serious crashes at the intersection," he told ABC News.

more

video at:

http://www.atsol.com...ight-running-2/

[andrewbares]

"careening into a divider and being thrown airborne, turning 360 degrees before eventually coming to rest."

That is f'ing EPIC!!! Car has hops!

[Azies]

Maybe while you're busy copying and pasting an article, you should make sure all your links work, if you're not going to write a single word, at least check your **** before you post it.

[Azusa]

And people say Burnout paradise is unrealistic.

[Hum]

Hollywood stuntmen would be proud :D

[+Ryster Subscriber²]

I find it amusing that the driver of that truck just keeps on driving despite a massive crash happening just to the left of him. If that were me, I'd be stopping to see if everybody was alright.

[Buttus]

are there really people that think it's ok to go blasting through a red light?!? i doubt it...

maybe pull up, stop, and not see any cars then go through it.

[Rohdekill]

The driver was arrested for DUI.

[Hum]

^ I am shocked :|

[dfuk]

I don't know the light sequence in the US but in the UK the sequence is:

Green = Go

Amber = Stop if safe ie. don't have to slam on the brakes to stop

Red = STOP

Red Amber = Prepare to go

not Starman version

red = stop

green = go

amber = go very very fast

Most people seem to think starman is the correct way.

[Hum]

My observation of the USA:

Green = set there for a while ... is that really the right shade of green ? I better dial this number on my phone first, so I am not distracted when I go.

Yellow = I can make it -- Floor it !

Red = Ah heck it just barely turned red -- we can get a couple of more cars thru.

OR, It's red and I am turning right -- but I'll just set here -- I never heard of legally turning right on red.

[qdave]

"There are a lot a people who don't think that running a red light is a problem"

WTF? How/why are they allowed to drive?

[Another Canuck]

WTF? How/why are they allowed to drive?

I see you're from Toronto... Have you ever driven in Brampton and Mississauga? I **** you not, people here treat red lights as optional.

Take note of the drivers running the red lights. Then take note of the people who are in charge of issuing drivers licences in Ontario.

Welcome to Canada, where "everybody should have the opportunity to drive!"

[Titoist]

I support having a mandatory drivers test every 10 years. It will quickly get rid of a lot of people from the road and they can also start improving highways (ie. create autobahns) because everyone would know how to drive properly. I say that if you are against a mandatory drivers test then you have something to hide and really shouldn't be driving anymore.

[andrewbares]

I support having a mandatory drivers test every 10 years. It will quickly get rid of a lot of people from the road and they can also start improving highways (ie. create autobahns) because everyone would know how to drive properly. I say that if you are against a mandatory drivers test then you have something to hide and really shouldn't be driving anymore.

Going to a class to get points off your license does way more than taking a drivers test. You actually learn stuff at those speeding ticket classes. The drivers manual/test was useless.

They should have drivers tests similar to the motorcycle tests... those actually require skill to pass.