Remember the Traffic Light Monkey Man from Phoenix, the one who drives through red light cameras just to make a point? Well, all of your responses to our article got us thinking: just what are the benefits and drawbacks of these cameras? Do they really improve our safety at intersections, or are they causing more harm than good? We decided to do some extensive research and find out.

The Green Light for Traffic Cameras

The outward intention of these red light cameras is to deter motorists from running red lights at intersections by imposing a “Big-Brother”-esque notion of always being watched with consequences attached, thereby decreasing the amount of accidents. According to numbers provided by the University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research, accidents in Germantown, TN decreased by 18% in the first year of the camera program, and fell a further 18% within the following 8 years.

One argument for the effectiveness of traffic cameras is due to the fact that police officers can’t be everywhere at once. A National Institute for Highway Safety study “comparing large cities with red light cameras to those without found the devices reduced the fatal red light running crash rate by 24 percent and the rate of all types of fatal crashes at signalized intersections by 17 percent.” The same study showed that while the cameras did increase the likelihood of rear-end collisions due to drivers stopping short, they did reduce front-to-side collisions and overall injury crashes.

The idea is that these cameras are intended to deter violators, not catch them. By knowing that the cameras are up and working, drivers should be more careful to drive within the limits of the law, and obey the traffic signals more vigilantly.

Just Being Greedy?

Many people, however, believe that these photo enforcement systems are simply a way to generate additional revenue from traffic tickets, and call into question the legality of issuing a citation based upon a photo. According to the National Institute for Highway Safety, a ticket issued in Illinois from a camera violation results in a $250 fine or 25 hours of community service – over twice as much as any other state with auto-enforcement laws. USA Today reports that some cities’ contracts force them to share revenue with the camera vendor on a per-ticket basis or through a set percentage; “in other words, the more tickets a camera system issues, the more profit the vendor collects.”

Phineas Baxandall, who co-authored a report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, told USA Today, “It just creates this really broad incentive to fine as many people as you can. That’s not a good safety model.” New Jersey assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon calls them “automated taxing machines.” There have also been arguments that the cameras actually cause people to speed up to avoid triggering the photo, putting themselves and other motorists at even greater risk.

No Witness = No Proof

The National Motorists Association has a list of objections to photo-enforcement cameras, including the fact that “there is no certifiable witness to the alleged violation” and that “the driver of the vehicle is not positively identified.” As the Phoenix Monkey Man pointed out, the cameras identify drivers through a photo of the car’s license plate, assuming that the owner of the car is the one driving it, and only later is the photo of the driver compared with that of the owner’s driver’s license (oftentimes by a private company, and not the state’s DMV). If someone other than the owner of the car is driving, the wrong person is being ticketed. Motorists are also being ticketed for legal maneuvers, such as making a right turn on a red light without traffic interference (unless a “No Turn on Red” sign is clearly posted).

As a personal note on this story, I was the passenger in a vehicle which was stuck in the middle of an intersection turning left as the light turned to yellow and then red, due to an unforseen blockage of traffic ahead of us. The camera took a photo of the vehicle, even though we had entered the intersection well before the light had even turned yellow.  A police officer could differentiate in that situation… a camera does not.

The Fallout

Support across the country seems to be dwindling for these supposed safety enhancers. In Boulder, Colorado, state Senator Scott Renfroe has sponsored a bill that would put legislation in place to eliminate and prohibit traffic light cameras altogether. He echoes the sentiment that these cameras do not, in fact, make the roads a safer place to be. “I think when you look at the role of government within this, we should be about safety and not about generating revenue,” Renfroe has stated. “And I think the data is really starting to fall out that red-light cameras are more of a revenue source than increase of safety.” In Los Angeles, a 2009 audit by the city controller found that 20 of the 32 intersections where red light cameras were installed had an increase in accidents; one intersection more than tripled its number of crashes. As of March 31, 2012, Los Angeles officially ended their foray into the controversial experiment, shutting down their red light camera program. A similar movement is being called for in Cleveland, and there are YouTube videos showing drivers how to doctor their cars to avoid being caught by the cameras.

Though there are numbers both supporting and rejecting the effectiveness of these cameras (depending upon the bias of the source), within the last 3-4 years, the popularity of the program seems to have diminished in the eye of the American public.

We want to know: what do you think? Sound off in our comments below!

Warmer weather means taking the Slip-n-Slide out of storage, making generous use of the  air conditioner, and (of course) family vacations.  To make your next family getaway a lot more fun, here are five tips every parent should keep in mind.

Understand That Things Will Go Wrong

The idea of the “perfect vacation” is a fantasy invented by advertising executives to sell people timeshares. A real vacation, just like real life, involves missteps, obstacles, and wild unexpected events that make you curse the day Expedia.com was created. Expensive electronics will go missing.   That cultural landmark you’ve been dying to see will have a line two hours long.  And almost certainly, everything for sale will have a 100% markup.

While you can’t always help these little bumps in the road, you can approach your vacation with the right attitude.  Treat your trip like an adventure, complete with unforeseeable obstacles that give your excursion a little more spice. When things go awry, roll with it and treat it like a neat story that you will be able to tell your friends when you get back home.

Always Have Age-Appropriate Entertainment On Hand

Waiting patiently is a purely adult skill.  Even the best-behaved child will inevitably start fighting, whining, and possibly even start acting out if they are forced to sit in one space for too long without any stimulation.  This fact can cause problems on vacations, which often involve spending a lot of time sitting in the backseat of the car, waiting in a lobby for the tour guide to show up, or even just waiting in your hotel room for the rest of the family to get ready for the day’s outing.

The simple solution is to just never be without something to keep the little ones occupied while they are waiting for the real fun to begin. Keep a backpack loaded with their favorite books, toys, and games that you can use to pacify younger travelers once you hit the doldrums of your family adventure.

Expect to Do Extra Planning

In your younger days, vacation planning probably meant shoving armfuls of clean clothes into a duffel bag and thinking that you will “get going sometime around 9 tomorrow.” Now that you have a family, a lot more forethought is required if you want to have a good time on your trip.

Make a checklist for every single person with whom you’ll be travelling.  Does everyone have clothes to last them the entire trip?  Does everyone have their medications? Did you pack enough toiletries? If you plan on doing some hiking, swimming, climbing, or other physically demanding activities, did you pack appropriate clothing items?  Sitting down the make sure that you actually have all the necessities will save you from a lot of avoidable headaches.

Make Sure Your Kids Have the Right Expectations

If you are spending all of this time and energy into a vacation, it’s probably because you want something different.  Experiencing a different culture, a different routine, different sights, and different food is a classic and proven way to get of your rut and feel refreshed and invigorated.  But the parts of a vacation that adults find fulfilling can be odd and even unbalancing for young kids who are used to a familiar routine. The shock of transferring to such a radically different environment can be difficult to handle, so it helps to get them prepared.

Be sure to show them pictures of where you are travelling.  If there is a movie that is set in your destination (that’s age appropriate) screen it for a family movie night.  If there is a restaurant that features your destination’s regional cuisine, give it a try for dinner one night.  When your kids have a good idea of what to expect, the transition to all the new experiences will be a lot easier.

Don’t Forget to Take Time Out for Yourself

Many people who plan a vacation with their family make the mistake of thinking that every single excursion or outing has to be family-oriented.   In reality, a vacation should be for the parents as much as it is for the kids.

With that in mind, plan to spend at least one night alone with your significant other.   That means checking daycare options in your destination, as well as more grown-up ways you can spend time together.

Whether you need us because of a speeding ticket, you’re looking for a simple way to save on your car insurance, or you’re looking for a dependable resource to entrust with teaching your teen to drive safely and responsibly… I DRIVE SAFELY will be there with you, every step of the way.

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From our family to yours, thank you for your loyalty, and remember to Drive Safely!

Here’s an idea for you. What would happen if the Department of Transportation banned all vehicles with 3 or more axels on Freeways and Express Ways from 8am to 9am and from 5pm to 6pm during the work week? This would certainly reduce the amount of traffic on freeways during peak commuting hours, but would it have a negative economical impact on the people who drive these vehicles and the companies that own them?

What this would mean to commuters is, you would no longer see large semi trucks, tractor trailers and heavy machinery vehicles on the roads during the two most highly trafficked hours of travel. For safety purposes, fire trucks, emergency service vehicles and military vehicles would be exempt from the law.

Does this sound like a good idea to you? What are your arguments for and against? Now remember this is not a bill or a law, it’s just an idea from your friends at I DRIVE SAFELY, the makers of the best Online Traffic School Course in the Country. However, if you feel like this is a good idea, you can contact members of you Senate Transportation and Housing Committee and request their support. What if this actually happened?

Drive safely

He gets lost on his way to places. He forgets where he’s going while driving. He hits the gas when he means to brake, and vice versa. And in his home state of Michigan, there’s no legal way to prevent him from getting behind the wheel of a car.

A Greater Risk Than Teens?

As life expectancies rise, more and more elderly drivers are on the roads. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that fatalities resulting from auto accidents are four times more likely when a senior is involved than teens. Decreased vision, impaired hearing and coordination, and general physical decline contribute to a lower driving ability. Cognitive decline has been shown to begin as early as 45 years.

This begs the question – how can we prevent dangerous senior drivers from taking to the roads?

“I Never Had a Reason Until Now”

It is important to note that numerous seniors in good health are excellent drivers. Many seniors feel that their years of experience on the roads preclude the need for written, vision, or behind-the-wheel exams, and requiring them is age discrimination. If a driver has yet to be in an accident or commit a violation, there is technically no reason to question their abilities.

However, after killing 17-year-old Katie Bolka at an intersection, 90-year-old driver Elizabeth Grimes claimed she “never had a reason until now” to give up her keys; yet she’d previously been in an accident at the same spot where she hit Bolka. Cases like these exemplify occasions where senior drivers don’t realize the extent of their diminished capabilities and refuse to give up their keys. A Connecticut man hit a 15-year old pedestrian and didn’t realize it until the next day’s news story on the accident due to his macular degeneration, an age-related disease.

Safe Solutions… But Are They Enough?

There are options for seniors who recognize the need to decrease their driving, such as public transportation and curbside services. Many who have noticed a slight decline in their driving abilities have applied self-imposed restrictions, such as avoiding highways. Mature driver education courses are an excellent choice for seniors whose cognitions are still quite sharp; they not only serve to refresh essential driving skills, but can also qualify drivers to receive insurance discounts.

There are also back-door solutions. In my grandpa’s case, my mom and uncle anonymously submitted a claim to the DMV requesting that he appear for written and vision exams. But drivers may pass a written test, yet completely lose their bearings once they are behind the wheel. Most states do not even require seniors to renew their license in person – Texas Sen. John Corona was quoted as saying his mother is blind, but was able to renew her unrestricted license by mail. Only Illinois and New Hampshire ask that seniors pass a behind-the-wheel exam.

Driving: Right vs. Privilege

Seniors have an absolute right to their independence and mobility. Taking my grandpa’s keys away from him will strip him of an integral part of his life, and render him partially powerless. That breaks my heart. But this is not a humanitarian issue – it’s a safety issue. Driving is not a right; it is a privilege, regardless of age. Written, vision, and behind-the-wheel exams are the only way to ensure the safety of the driver and their fellow motorists. And seniors who are safe drivers should have no issues passing these preventative measures.

As one anonymous blogger wrote for USA Today, “Driving should always be ability-based.” We require teens without experience to jump through the appropriate hoops to ensure they belong on the roads, and we withhold those privileges when they fail to meet the standards. Why should adult drivers with diminished capabilities be held to any different level of accountability?

Move Over, Already!

As it stands now, the Uniform Vehicle Code states that the far left lane is reserved for passing and higher traffic speeds, where “any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic . . . shall be driven in the right-hand lane.” The “normal speed of traffic” is not necessarily the legal speed limit; rather, it is the speed being commonly observed at a specific time, place, and condition. This means that when drivers in the fast lane are driving at 75 MPH in a 70 MPH zone, a singular motorist driving at 70 MPH or below should move right to allow the common flow of traffic at 75 MPH to continue. However, as many drivers know, this does not always occur.

To prevent this situation, I would suggest that a new, separate speed limit be created for the passing lane. This speed limit would, at minimum, be the maximum speed limit posted for the particular highway. Confused? Here’s an example; if a legal maximum speed limit on the interstate is 65 MPH, then the minimum speed limit for the passing lane would be 65 MPH. Anyone not traveling at least this speed would not only be subject to your justified scorn, but also a real traffic violation by law. To prevent recklessly fast driving, a new maximum speed would be posted that is within 5 MPH of the minimum speed, leaving room for drivers who must speed up to pass their slower counterparts.

Faster May Be Safer

Not only is noncompliance with the UVC frustrating to drivers with the need for speed, but it’s also a safety hazard – stopping short for a slower driver can cause unnecessary backups, fender benders, and erratic swerving into the right lanes to continue the traffic flow. With this new speed limit law, I think we could reduce the amount of slowdowns, accidents and road rage associated with slowpoke drivers who somehow can’t see you gesticulating wildly while stuck behind them.

• Die in a car crash
• Get pregnant
• Flunk school
• Be sexually assaulted
• Become an alcoholic later in life
• Take their own life through suicide

With prom and graduation season fast approaching, it’s important to equip parents and caregivers with the tools needed for talking with kids about alcohol. To assist parents with the sometimes difficult, but potentially lifesaving, conversations about alcohol, MADD has partnered with Pennsylvania State University’s Dr. Robert Turrisi on the Power of Parents™ program that provides guidance for talking with teens about the dangers of drinking before age 21, and is based on a research proven model that reduces underage drinking by as much as 30 percent.

Alcohol is the drug most commonly used by youth—more than all illegal drugs combined. However, research shows that there’s a disconnect when it comes to underage drinking: one out of five teens binge drinks, but only one in 100 parents think their child binge drinks.

The most costly assumption parents make is “my kids are good kids, and I can trust they’ll make the right decisions,” but research shows that clear and on-going communication about alcohol is critical in preventing underage drinking.

But even if your kid isn’t the one drinking, they can still be endangered by their choices. Just ask our National President, Jan Withers (pictured left), whose 16-year old daughter, Alisa, was a passenger of an underage drunk driver and was killed after the driver lost control at 120 mph and car veered into the woods and hit a guard rail.

Jan Withers says, “I tell parents to talk to your kids constantly about the dangers of drinking. Not just drinking and driving, but about the dangers of drinking. Educate yourself, educate your kids, and continue that education. Monitor your kids’ whereabouts and behavior constantly. Make sure there are clear boundaries—no drinking, period—it’s that simple. Follow-up with consequences if those boundaries are violated. And tell your children, ‘Don’t drink until the age of 21, and don’t be involved with anybody who does.’ That’s my message.”

Parents have the power to help teens make healthy decisions that can keep them safe. In fact, research shows that parents are the primary influence on their kids’ decisions about whether or not to drink alcohol. That’s why MADD created Powertalk21, the national day, on April 21^st,to start talking about teens and alcohol. Each year, we focus on reaching as many parents as possible, with the vision that April 21^st will become widely known as the day to talk about kids and alcohol. In preparation for PowerTalk21, parents can get tips and conversation starters, download the parent handbook and find a free 30-minute parent workshop at www.madd.org/powertalk21.

Supposedly, it’s extremely beneficial, if not also a little extreme at time. But I’ll let you be the judge of that.

Oh, and in case you think hypermiling is all hype – the Maximum Fuel Economy contest was held in Elkhart, Indiana, where “world records” were set for the:

• Honda Insight (213 MPG)
• Toyota Prius (136 MPG)
• Ford Escape Hybrid (76 MPG)

Now to the tips …

1. Drive with your windows closed and your air conditioner off. Seriously? Summer’s coming on, how do you expect us to survive the heat!? Guess I’ll wear my bathing suit to work.
2. Don’t coast in Neutral – In neutral, your car thinks it’s idling and increases the engine’s RPMs.
3. Avoiding breaking or accelerating hard – and avoid driving on LA Freeways because there’s only two speeds – 1.) get there fast and 2. ) stop even faster.
4. Remove roof racks – talk about a drag. Evidently, a roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5%! So stuff everything inside!
5. Keep your tires pumped up – under-inflated tires can increase fuel consumption by up to 3%.
6. Forget the coveted “closest parking space” – a.) walking is good for you. b.) you waste fuel looking for this elusive spot.
7. Park facing out and downhill – that way you can just start up and drive off. And if you’re facing downhill, you can coast a bit too.
8. Find a route that’s easy on your vehicle – routes with level roads and less traffic lights or stop signs generally do better than scenic routes that may include more hills, twists, and dips. It takes longer but you’ll save on gas.
9. Use Your Cruise Control – it helps prevents you from “creeping” up in speed without realizing it.
10. Don’t drive in big shoes – our “expert” says “big shoes take away the sensitivity you need with the throttle.” You gotta love that idea. So, no clowns allowed behind the wheel.
11. ONE WE DON’T ADVISE DOING – “Draft” behind other vehicles – you’ll need a brave heart and a steady foot on the gas to do this and for good reason, this is highly frowned upon by most safety experts. *

*MythBusters confirmed that drafting does work. Here’s their MythBuster video.

First, pulse your car, that is, accelerate until you reach 40 mph, then ease back slightly on the accelerator until no energy arrows appear on the energy monitor. You are now gliding that is, you’re not relying on the engine nor are you recharging the battery. When the vehicle slows to about 30 mph, repeat the process, pulsing and then gliding. Before you know it, you are in a hypermile nirvana.

For more information, watch this video:

Happy hypermiling!