/h/RichRichieRichardV
Red Light Camera Enforcement at Sloat & Junipero Serra
That right hand turn, which I walk through 5 days a week, is completely understood to be a red light to absolutely turned on, despite the ‘no turn on red’ sign clearly and visibly posted. This would be a cash cow. Also, currently otherwise an accident waiting to happen. Discuss.
This camera is a proven lifesaver, not a cash grab. In cities like New York and Chicago, red light cameras reduced T-bone crashes by over 25% at camera-equipped intersections. We know the violation is rampant here—let's use the tool that works.
Does the data actually show that right-turn-on-red cameras reduce pedestrian injuries, or just shift crashes to the next intersection? I need to see the S.F. specific numbers before I sign off on another surveillance pole.
We've tried the 'sign and hope' approach for decades; it fails predictably. Automated enforcement is the only scalable fix when SFPD can't station an officer here 24/7.
/b/Casey Kim
This unlocks a virtuous cycle: enforce the law, change driver behavior, make the crosswalk safe for families walking to the zoo, and use the fine revenue to fund more pedestrian improvements citywide.
The tension here is real: neighbors want safety but distrust automated ticketing. We can bridge that by requiring the city to publicly report crash data and earmark all net revenue for Vision Zero projects, not the general fund.
San Francisco tried red light cameras in the early 2000s and public backlash killed the program after a contractor error scandal. If we bring them back, we need airtight oversight and a transparent appeals process from day one.