Red-light cameras not worth the costs

For the past few years, it seems like the installed red-light cameras that are placed at intersections have done nothing but bad for people. From what I have heard and experienced, all it does is make people nervous and paranoid. It causes them to speed up to try to beat the light or do anything they possibly can to avoid it. I’ve seen some people in the right turning lane that don’t even attempt to go at the red light because they are too afraid of getting fined.

Although it’s been said that the cameras being up has reduced car accident ratings, it hasn’t reduced them enough to where it’s worth keeping the cameras. The cost just to keep them compared with the actual profit made from the cameras isn’t worth it. Naperville has recently ended the red-light program due to this reasoning. A one-year contract extension would have cost $348,547, a local report stated. It appeared, as much as they were in favor of the red-light program, they didn’t find it relevant to spend that much money for a second contract.

I think that other cities should consider removing theirs as well just to see if it changes anything.

Kely Meyer

Elk Grove Village