Letter: Red-light cameras are dangerous
A red-light camera monitors the North Service Road of the LIE at Ronkonkoma Avenue in Ronkonkoma. (Oct. 28, 2010) Credit: James Carbone
Worse than red-light cameras being positioned to raise revenue is that they are dangerous and cause stress ["Firefighter: Drivers fear red-light cameras," Your Community Watchdog, Jan. 15].
Just the other day, I watched a motorist slam on his brakes for a yellow light. Unfortunately, the car behind him did not have brakes as good and rear-ended him.
A similar situation happened while I was traveling with a friend who had his dog in the car. The motorist in front of him slammed on his brakes, and the dog flew from the backseat to the front. Fortunately, the dog was not injured.
Not only are these cameras dangerous, they are unfair and cause stress to every motorist who knows he is approaching an intersection with a camera. We now pay so much attention to the color of the light that our eyes are not on the road where they should be.
This intrusive form of revenue-raising nonsense has nothing to do with safety and is simply a governmental money grab; the revenue is counted as part of each county's budget. I'd rather they raised my taxes.
Michael Parker, Long Beach
