No Cameras
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
Those persons implementing the "red light camera project" as reported in the Times-Union, April 4, 2008, should give more consideration to the negative aspects of the "Rise of their Machines in Warsaw," because cameras and traffic signals are senseless robotic machines.
I monitored a traffic signal in Warsaw and noted that during a cycle of green-amber-red-green, an average of three vehicles proceeded into the intersection on amber or red. This non-scientific study number could equate to more than 150 violations in an hour at just this one signal. Multiply this number by the number of signals in Warsaw and there are thousands of violations per day. However, seldom does harm (loss) result from all those violations. Perhaps the reason is that most drivers sense other drivers may error, and in accordance with the law, do not drive into the intersection until it is safe to do so. Loss occurs when two errant drivers chance to be at the same intersection at the same instant.
I believe in the policy of "no harm, no foul" as opposed to "blind obedience."
If I were judge or juror considering loss at an intersection, I would likely find that the driver that proceeded into the intersection without making sure it was safe to do so, was as much responsible for the loss as the driver that ran the red light.
Robotic machines are "perfect." Humans make errors. We don't need a policy that sets robots above humans. We don't need more laws nor this additional enforcement. The government cannot protect drivers against their own carelessness unless it makes humans into robots. Yes, the government can take more money out of our pockets. That is just what we need: The government with their hand deeper into our pockets ...
The concept of man vs. machine underlies several popular movies such as "The Rise of the Machines," "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "2001." How can anyone forget "Hal," the machine that killed the humans because he thought the humans might make mistakes? And, of course, their "evil" implementers. There always will be those manipulators that want more control of our lives. They always use the excuse that it is in our best interest. We must oppose them before it is entirely too late.
The cameras would not stop red light violations (or any resultant loss). They merely passively record events while enriching camera manufacturers. Would the next step be to add devices to the machines that estimate whether an on-coming vehicle will stop for the red light, and if not, use guns and rockets to destroy the vehicle before it breaks the law? If so, the streets of Warsaw would look like the streets in Baghdad.
Bah to the camera idea.
Buck Young
Warsaw
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Those persons implementing the "red light camera project" as reported in the Times-Union, April 4, 2008, should give more consideration to the negative aspects of the "Rise of their Machines in Warsaw," because cameras and traffic signals are senseless robotic machines.
I monitored a traffic signal in Warsaw and noted that during a cycle of green-amber-red-green, an average of three vehicles proceeded into the intersection on amber or red. This non-scientific study number could equate to more than 150 violations in an hour at just this one signal. Multiply this number by the number of signals in Warsaw and there are thousands of violations per day. However, seldom does harm (loss) result from all those violations. Perhaps the reason is that most drivers sense other drivers may error, and in accordance with the law, do not drive into the intersection until it is safe to do so. Loss occurs when two errant drivers chance to be at the same intersection at the same instant.
I believe in the policy of "no harm, no foul" as opposed to "blind obedience."
If I were judge or juror considering loss at an intersection, I would likely find that the driver that proceeded into the intersection without making sure it was safe to do so, was as much responsible for the loss as the driver that ran the red light.
Robotic machines are "perfect." Humans make errors. We don't need a policy that sets robots above humans. We don't need more laws nor this additional enforcement. The government cannot protect drivers against their own carelessness unless it makes humans into robots. Yes, the government can take more money out of our pockets. That is just what we need: The government with their hand deeper into our pockets ...
The concept of man vs. machine underlies several popular movies such as "The Rise of the Machines," "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and "2001." How can anyone forget "Hal," the machine that killed the humans because he thought the humans might make mistakes? And, of course, their "evil" implementers. There always will be those manipulators that want more control of our lives. They always use the excuse that it is in our best interest. We must oppose them before it is entirely too late.
The cameras would not stop red light violations (or any resultant loss). They merely passively record events while enriching camera manufacturers. Would the next step be to add devices to the machines that estimate whether an on-coming vehicle will stop for the red light, and if not, use guns and rockets to destroy the vehicle before it breaks the law? If so, the streets of Warsaw would look like the streets in Baghdad.
Bah to the camera idea.
Buck Young
Warsaw
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