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New Yorkers Angry With Red Light Cameras; Round Rock Drivers, Not So Much


Drivers in New York are angrier than usual these days. They're suing the city charging that the traffic lights at certain intersections were setup to guarantee more traffic tickets.

The class action lawsuit says the yellow light was purposely shortened at the 150 intersections where the city setup its red light cameras.  The New Yorkers argue that they just don't have enough yellow light time to come to a stop before the light turns red.   But in Round Rock the drivers have a different opinion. 

They're cool with their cameras.  Motorist Zoy Kocin says, “The ones around here in Round Rock, I think they're timed well.  So I don't have a problem with them.  I think they're good for safety."

A rule of thumb is that you need one second of yellow light for every ten miles per hour of speed. The speed limit at the intersection we tested was 45, and we clocked the yellow light at almost 4-1/2 seconds.  Pretty close. 

And as far as the red light cameras being a money maker, the city of Round Rock says the cameras pay for themselves, but the real payoff is safety.  They point to a 2011 study by the Texas Transportation Institute that found red light-related accidents dropped 25 percent where the cameras were installed. 

Round Rock has 10 of red light cameras right now, and thanks to positive feedback they're considering adding as many as 14 more.

By Fred Cantu