Here’s an interesting letter in today’s Chronicle, in relation to red light cameras:
Missing turn signals
Regarding the Chronicle’s May 3 article “No boundaries exist for red-light running”: I found it interesting that one of the worst intersections for traffic accidents was at Richmond and Dunlavy, since I pass through this intersection at least twice daily. I agree there is a problem with drivers’ running red lights but I see the same problem at a number of intersections inside the Loop 610. And I don’t believe the issue will be solved through the use of cameras.
Most of the people I see running lights do so when there are no traffic-light signals for left turns. The same problems exist on West Gray, Westheimer, Alabama and other Richmond intersections. When the traffic is heavy, people have no choice but to run the light in order to turn left.
The backup caused by a lack of turn signals also interferes with the through-traffic lanes, too.
If the city would install turn signals at these intersections, the situation would improve.
AMY RORIE Houston
Really? If Ms. Rorie is correct, and some of the intersections the mayor says are facing an “epidemic” of red light runners don’t have dedicated left turn signals, then isn’t that a transportation design flaw? Mayor White should address this issue before he starts installing revenue-generating red light cameras.
Are any of our readers familiar with the intersections on this list? We’d be curious to know if any of these problem intersections are missing dedicated left turn signals.
RELATED: KTRK-13’s list of the most accident-prone intersections.
UPDATE: Charles Kuffner is familiar with another intersection on the list and offers his perspective.
