Dear Editor:
Tuesday’s announcement of another red light camera in Jersey City (‘After two red-light cameras record 16,000 violations…’ Dec. 20) is concerning. Police Chief Thomas Comey suggests the cameras are solely to improve public safety. If this is true, he should exhaust alternative safety measures including longer yellow lights, brighter traffic signals, larger signage, and ‘all red’ periods at more dangerous intersections. As highlighted in Caution: Red Light Cameras Ahead, a recent study published by U.S. PIRG, these solutions are less costly to install and maintain than red light camera systems and in many cases have reduced accidents significantly. Only when the above measures have failed to reduce violations, should the city expand its red light camera system. While Jersey City police should be applauded for wanting to make intersections safer, the public needs to be protected against cameras being used primarily for profit.
Joe Donnellan