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from the but-they-do-work-to-raise-ticket-income dept.
Red-light cameras don't reduce the number of traffic accidents or injuries at intersections where the devices are installed, according a new analysis by Case Western Reserve University.
Touted by supporters as a way increase public safety by ticketing drivers who continue through red lights, the cameras actually shift traffic patterns: More drivers tend to brake harder and more abruptly, increasing fender-benders and other so-called "non-angle" collisions.
"Once drivers knew about the cameras, they appeared to accept a higher accident risk from slamming on their brakes at yellow lights to avoid an expensive traffic citation—thereby decreasing safety for themselves and other drivers," said Justin Gallagher, an assistant professor of economics at Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve.
Accidents didn't decrease, only shift.
(Score: 3, Touché) by Phoenix666 on Friday July 20 2018, @01:55PM
That is an excellent proposal.
In 21st century democracy, in the Second American Republic (and next iteration of other democracies), laws must include sunset provisions, such that once their purpose has been fulfilled, or they have failed to meet their goals, then they automatically get archived and scrubbed from the books.
Imagine the cruft that would eliminate! It would make things much more transparent to the people who are supposed to understand and obey laws, too.
As a humble addendum to your proposal, each law should clearly report who wins and which politician's cousin is getting rich from the sweetheart deal wrapped up in the fine print.
Washington DC delenda est.