Traffic Light Signals and Red Light Cameras

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2008-01-29
© 2005--2008 J. JIH, a member of the National Motorists Association in the United States

Traffic light signals tell who must stop or go to prevent traffic conflicts, but they are not the cure for all. Properly used traffic light signals promote traffic safety and efficiency.

Red means stop.
Yellow means caution and prepare to stop.
Green means go.
Flashing yellow light means go cautiously.

(United Nations Economic Commission for Europe: Legal instruments in the field of transport:
 Convention on Road Signs and Signals, of 8 November 1968: Article 23)
(Dik T. WINTER: Traffic lights (animations)

1. Pre-timed traffic light signals
2. Traffic light signals with loop detectors
3. Traffic light signals allowing pre-emption
4. Flashing lights
5. Turning on red light
6. Red light cameras
7. Fighting red light summonses and paying fines with bulk coins

1. Pre-timed traffic light signals

Pre-timed traffic light signals are technically easier to operate, but overusing them is worse for traffic and may stop traffic more frequently, so traffic may go faster to avoid red lights instead. New York City in New York in the United States has most traffic light signals pre-timed regardless of surrounding traffic, so one who just started from a change to green may be forced a stop for red. There are proposals to the New York City Department of Transportation to use loop detectors, but the officials tend to refuse them with various excuses, such as excessive traffic and necessity to coordinate the traffic light signals, but these claims may be false. This often slows buses down and downgrades their service, even though bicyclists from side roads may get green more easily. The only traffic not trapped would be emergency vehicles using their alarms, whether properly or not.

2. Traffic light signals with loop detectors

3. Traffic light signals allowing pre-emption

4. Flashing lights

5. Turning on red light

5.1. Countries and areas driving on the right
5.1.1. The United States except the Virgin Islands
5.1.2. Canada
5.1.3. Mexico
5.1.4. Europe except the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus
5.1.5. Other countries and areas driving on the right
5.2. Countries and areas driving on the left
5.3. Analysis

5.1. Countries and areas driving on the right

5.1.1. The United States except the Virgin Islands

Right turn on red light is permitted after stop in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Left turn on red light from a one-way road into a one-way road is permitted after stop in 42 states and Puerto Rico. There is no left turn on red light in South Dakota unless authorized by a municipal ordinance, in Connecticut, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, the District of Columbia, or Guam. Left turn on red light from a two-way road into a one-way road is permitted after stop in Alaska, Idaho, Michigan, Oregon and Washington only.

In New York, there is no turn on red light in New York City or for school buses state-wide while carrying pupils.

After stop on red arrow lights, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Washington and Wyoming permit left turn from a one-way road into a one-way road and right turn. (Michigan, Oregon and Washington also permit left turn on red arrow after stop from a two-way road into a one-way road. New Hampshire prohibits left turn on red arrow.) There is no turn on red arrow in Alaska, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, New York, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. Other state laws do not specify red arrows.

A No Turn on Red sign (US sign #R10-11) or other traffic control device (such as electronic display) may prohibit turns on red light. Some signs have time ranges, the words "When Pedestrians are Present", or the like. A Right Turn on Red after Stop sign or the like may specifically permit otherwise prohibited or non-apparent turns on red light.

See also:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Impact of Right Turn on Red
John CLETHEROE: Driving In The USA And Canada: Right Turns On Red Lights, Left Turns At Intersections (Reciprocal Links)
Gatago: right turn on red (reciprocal link)
walkinginfo.org: Right-Turn-on-Red Restrictions

5.1.2. Canada

5.1.3. Mexico

There is generally no right turn on red light unless permitted by a sign. (See also SURVIVAL GUIDE - MEXICO.) However, in the Federal District (Distrito Federal in Spanish), right turn on red light with caution is permitted, as is left turn on red light from a one-way road into a one-way road. (Thanks to Xavier TREVIÑO for extra information.)

5.1.4. Europe except the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus

There is no turn on red light unless specifically authorized, usually by green arrow. The following table is for some countries with right-hand traffic.

ISO 3166 and countries	Sources	Turns on red light
AT Austria	United States Department of State	No right turn on red light
BE Belgium	Verkeersreglement (Dutch) = Le code de la route (French) (the Code of the Road): ART 61	No turn on red light unless allowed by green arrow
BG Bulgaria	United States Department of State	No right turn on red light unless specifically authorized
BY Belarus	(Belarussian) Pravila dorozhnogo dvizheniya (Rules of the Road Traffic): 7.2, 7.3	No turn on red light unless permitted by green arrow
CH Switzerland	SR 741.21 Art. 68 (German) = RS 741.21 Art. 68 (French) = RS 741.21 Art. 68 (Italian)	There is no turn on red light unless permitted by green arrow. There is no turn on black arrow on red.
CZ Czech Republic		No right turn on red light
DE Germany	(German) Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO) (Road Traffic Ordinances): § 37(2)(1) German signals and markings	There is no turn on red light, but a green rightward arrow on a black sign on the right of a red light permits right turn on red after stop. There is no turn on black arrow on red.
DK Denmark		No turn on red light
EE Estonia	United States Department of State	No right turn on red light unless indicated by green arrow
ES Spain	(Spanish) Reglamento General de Circulación: Artículo 146	There is no turn on red light unless permitted by green arrow. There is no turn on black arrow on red.
FI Finland		No turn on red light
FR France	(French) Code de la route : Dispositions réglementaires : Feux de signalisation lumineux : Article R412-30	There is no turn on red light unless permitted by a flashing yellow arrow to proceed while preparing to yield. There is no turn on red arrow.
GR Greece		No turn on red light
HR Croatia	United States Department of State	No right turn on red light unless allowed by green arrow
HU Hungary	United States Department of State	No right turn on red light
IS Iceland	(Icelandic) Umferðarmerkin United States Department of State	No turn on red light unless allowed by green arrow
IT Italy		There is no turn on red light unless permitted by green arrow. There is no turn on red arrow.
LU Luxembourg		No turn on red light unless signposted by a green arrow pointing right
NL the Netherlands	Reglement verkeersregels en verkeerstekens (RVV 1990) (Dutch) = Road Traffic Signs and Regulations in the Netherlands (English): Artikel 68 / Article 68	There is no turn on red light unless permitted by green arrow, a "Right turn clear for bicycles and mopeds" (Rechtsaf voor (brom)-fietsers vrij in Dutch) plate for cyclists, moped riders, and drivers of invalid carriages, or a "Right turn clear for bicycles" (Rechtsaf voor fietsers vrij in Dutch) plate for cyclists and drivers of invalid carriages. Sign courtesy of Jan PIELKENROOD
NO Norway		No right turn on red light
PT Portugal	(Portuguese) Decreto Regulamentar n.º 22-A/98: Artigo 69.º, Artigo 70.º	There is no turn on red light unless permitted by green arrow, or permitted by a flashing yellow light with a black arrow to proceed with caution.
RU the Russian Federation	(Russian) Правила дорожного движения (Rules of the Road Traffic): 6.2, 6.3	No turn on red light unless permitted by green arrow
SE Sweden	Sveriges vägmärken, trafiksignaler, vägmarkeringar och polismans tecken (Swedish) = Swedish road signs, signals, road markings and signals by policemen (English)	There is no turn on red light unless permitted by green arrow. There is no turn on black arrow on red.

5.1.5. Other countries and areas driving on the right

5.2. Countries and areas driving on the left

5.3. Analysis

6. Red light cameras

Red light cameras are sometimes used to catch those who run red lights, but they are expensive and misuse means disasters. Red light cameras at low level may be on a low pole. Red light cameras at high level may be on a horizontal structure. Certain red light cameras also attempt to photograph drivers in addition to vehicles, but drivers covering their faces may defeat this attempt. Red light cameras often have common grace periods of 0.3 second or 0.5 second internationally and a minimum speed of 15 to 20 miles per hour ((24 to 32) km/h) to activate the system.

Reciprocal links:
Community Traffic Safety Team Pasco County
Transportation Alternatives Message Board: "Red light" surveillance cameras

6.1. Critical decision upon a yellow light
6.2. Traffic engineering and green and red light timers versus red light cameras
6.2.1. The Internationale versus tyrannical red light cameras
6.2.2. A patriotic speech for the United States
6.3. How may red light cameras increase crimes?
6.4. Sample electronic mails
6.5. Locations with red light cameras

6.1. Critical decision upon a yellow light

6.2. Traffic engineering and green and red light timers versus red light cameras

Red light running should be rare when traffic light signals are engineered with proper durations of yellow change and red clearance intervals. Durations of yellow change and red clearance intervals are governed in Section 4D.10 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices of the United States and Article 231 of the Rules of Installation of Road Traffic Signs, Markings and Light Signals in Taiwan.

Green and red light timers count down how many seconds are left before a traffic light signal changes the light. The timers help drivers save fuels by preparing to stop when little time is left to pass a green light that will change soon. Once green and red light timers prove successful, red light cameras will be obsolete, but green and red light timers cannot substitute proper durations of yellow change or red clearance intervals.

Green and red light timers can usually work well with pre-timed traffic light signals. They may sometimes but not always work with traffic light signals with loop detectors with variable lengths of green time for each direction. If vehicles trigger loop detectors from minor roads, timers on major roads can probably count down before lights turn red. If other later vehicles on minor roads must wait, timers can probably count down for the next light change.

Many red light violations are due to faulty traffic light signals. Citing many violations through red light cameras cannot make a true sense of safety. Having few violations render red light cameras wasteful. These dispel the myths that red light cameras make roads safer.

Where real red light cameras are not available, dummy cameras may be set up, but users and supporters of dummy cameras are indeed real dummies.

6.2.1. The Internationale versus tyrannical red light cameras

The Internationale is a well-known revolutionary song. Eugène POTTIER wrote its original French lyrics in 1871. It used the melody of La Marseillaise, the national anthem of France, until Pierre DEGEYTER set its own melody. It has been translated into dozens of languages. It has been sung to resist oppression, so it may be usable to resist tyrannical red light cameras used by modern highwaymen to exploit motorists. There are many various lyrics in English. Billy BRAGG has a modern version.

6.2.2. A patriotic speech for the United States

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices of the United States is a mandatory national standard with legal force. The Oath of Allegiance of the United States says, "I hereby declare ... that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic..."

Those violating the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices without regard to proper traffic engineering are enemies of the laws of the United States and they are not patriotic or suitable to have driver licenses. This kind of attitude includes misuse of traffic light signals and red light cameras. These offenders break liberty and justice for all and ruin the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Late President John Fitzgerald KENNEDY of the United States made the inaugural address in 1961, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." Americans should defend and uphold the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices against any enemies.

6.3. How may red light cameras increase crimes?

6.4. Sample electronic mails

Jim LOCKE has granted his permission to copy the following material with minor corrections. He has requested not to disclose his electronic mail address, so send any messages for him here for forwarding. The following material explains why bullet resistant cabinets enclosing red light cameras may threaten safety.

Subject: Safety Threat Posed by Red Light Cameras

Text of message:

What Red Light Cameras Are

Red light cameras are automated traffic law enforcement system that takes pictures of traffic light violations. The citations are sent in the mail. For an excellent description of the red light camera technology, go to http://www.photocop.com/red-light.htm.

The Safety Threat

As described at the above web site, red light cameras are installed in bullet resistant housings and the camera lens is behind bullet resistant glass. Obviously, the designers of the camera systems expect the cameras to be shot at. Why else would they enclose the cameras in bullet resistant housings? What they have not protected are the people near the camera housings: pedestrians, drivers, passengers, as well as employees, customers and owners of nearby businesses, and nearby residents. Bullets aimed at the cameras may ricochet off the housings or miss entirely, potentially injuring or killing people.

Is the Threat Real?

Yes, the cameras are fired at, although few incidents of bullets fired at the housings are reported in the media. A Boulder City Council Agenda item (in Colorado in the United States) from July 3, 2001 reports that one camera was hit by a high caliber bullet that penetrated the "bullet-proof" housing and put the camera out of service. A Weekly Standard article describes one incident of 30 rounds being fired into a camera in Paradise in Arizona (in the United States).

What You Can Do

Look for red light cameras at intersections. These cameras are usually in rectangular metal housings. If you work at, own or patronize a business near one of the red light cameras, you are especially at risk. Please contact your city council member, go to city council meetings and write to your newspapers, whatever you can do, to express your concern. Demand that the cameras be removed to protect your safety. If the council members say that they do not think that you are at risk, ask them why the cameras are in bullet resistant housings. Point out that every citation mailed out potentially angers a driver and that some drivers are gun owners who will be angry enough to shoot at the cameras. To bolster your case, look for evidence of bullets having grazed the housings. If you find evidence, take pictures to show to the council members.

Please do not confuse the red light cameras, used for citations, with the smaller traffic surveillance cameras mounted very high, usually on light posts. They are less likely to be the target of gunfire.

6.5. Locations with red light cameras

North America: The Speed Trap Exchange has some information of red light cameras.

United States: PhotoCop: Locations

United States: New York: New York City: The authority to use no more than 100 red light cameras in New York City until 1 December 2009 is Section 1111-a of the Vehicle and Traffic Law. More real or dummy cameras have been added. The following list is not guaranteed to be complete. Insufficient information is known about which are real or dummy cameras. The fine is 55 United States dollars. The Department of "Finance" collects and processes those fines and conducts the hearings for drivers contesting the notices of "liability" as summonses.

Manhattan

The Bronx

Brooklyn

Queens

Staten Island

Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan and the United Kingdom are also known to use red light cameras. Though use of red light cameras is not known in the People's Republic of China where freedom is tightly restricted, other video surveillance is known to cite traffic violations.

7. Fighting red light summonses and paying fines with bulk coins

Fake red light camera tickets, such as those without addresses of courts or those saying "Do not contact the court", also exist to fool motorists. Beware of these tricks. Some smart motorists throw them out without any payments or troubles as these fake tickets cannot be enforced. Sending fake red light camera tickets should ideally be criminalized.

If an unjustified summons of a red light violation cannot be defeated after all reasonable efforts, such as due to corruptive police and courts, paying the fine in bulk coins in the smallest denomination may be possible. Never pay fines with bulk coins without pleading not guilty first as authorities might retaliate with coin counting machines. To teach back a lesson in this way, the bulk coins cannot be refused and the cashier must be easily accessible. Never mail bulk coins to pay any fines.

Article 2-A of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of New York State in the United States provides that non-criminal traffic infractions except parking, standing, stopping or pedestrian offenses occurring in limited parts of the state may be heard and determined in Traffic Violations Bureaus of the Department of Motor Vehicles. They are in New York City, western Suffolk County, Rochester and Buffalo but not court of laws. Even though clear and convincing are legally required to find someone guilty, many lawyers unofficially report that administrative law judges in these bureaus often side with complaining police officers without bothering with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. An administrative appeal may be filed by mail within 30 days, but the Appeals Board appears to be unfair. If losing the appeal, it is still possible to file a lawsuit in a real court of law pursuant to Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules. The attorney's fee is likely high, but seek any available free advices. There are real uses of Article 78.

All currencies of the United States are legal tender for all debts, public and private (31 USC (United States Code) 5103), so it appears that officials may not legally refuse bulk coins. A coin of 0.01 United States dollar, equal to 1 cent, has the lowest denomination, a diameter of 19.05 mm, a thickness of 1.55 mm and a mass of 2.500 g. Its volume is (19.05 mm / 2)² * π * 1.55 mm = 442 mm³. A fine of 50 United States dollars paid with 5000 coins of 1 cent would weigh 12.5 kg and occupy 2.21 dm³.

In Taiwan, currencies valued at least 1 new Taiwan dollars are unlimited legal tender. A coin of 1 new Taiwan dollar has a mass of 3.8 g and a diameter of 20 mm, so a fine of 1800 new Taiwan dollars paid with 1800 coins of 1 new Taiwan dollar would weigh 6.8 kg.

In Canada, coins are limited legal tender pursuant to Section 8 of the Currency Act. In Australia, coins are also limited legal tender pursuant to Section 16 of the Currency Act 1965. Officials could legally refuse bulk coins for payment of the fines if they would have to take too much time to count them. This makes payment of the fine in bulk coins hardly useful unless coins are packaged in rolls and better acceptable.

As long as traffic light signals are engineered with proper durations of yellow change and red clearance intervals, red light cameras should be unnecessary. Whether or not to use traffic light signals should be based on careful traffic engineering, and illegal traffic light signals should be corrected or even removed as appropriate. Proper traffic engineering and green and red light timers must be supported to ban red light cameras everywhere in the future.