I know, this really isn't a "freaky" subject unless of course you take into account the fact that you are being watched while driving the freeways surrounding the Phoenix metro area and more of the privacy we once had is now gone.
I have been in a funk ever since those cameras were rolled out here in the Fall. I have lived out here almost 13 years and "knock wood" have never received a speeding ticket. I drive on average on the freeways, five to ten miles over the speed limit. Which by the way, is generally going with the flow of traffic. I don't drive crazy and switch lanes a million times or run red lights either. I absolutely loathe driving on the freeways here now. As if the traffic congestion wasn't bad enough, now I have to deal with everyone going an average of five miles
under the speed limit because they don't want a 200 dollar ticket. Then, there was the time that I almost rear ended someone going 60 mph on the SR51 because the guy directly in front of me slammed on his brakes because he didn't want a ticket. Now tell me that isn't causing a problem all on it's own?
It's no secret that these cameras were not put in place to protect the lives of AZ families but, to put money into the pockets of the government. I just read an older Wall Street Journal article confirming that the cameras are used as "a means of generating revenue". Just the same as when a government is in a decline financially, they tend to have their police write more citations.
The verdict is still out on whether or not the cameras improve safety because people slamming on their brakes can cause accidents and there was only a "modest" improvement on side impact crashes in some areas where there were cameras placed for red light running.
I don't like them period.
