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Village to Consider Red Light Cameras

Farmingdale board discusses three intersections where Nassau County wishes to install cameras.

are considering allowing red light cameras to be installed at two troubling intersections within the village. Nassau County is looking at Route 109 and Main Street intersection and the NY 24 and Merrits Road intersection as possible sites for these new cameras.

Mayor Ralph Ekstrand told at Monday night's work session that he and Village Administrator Brian Harty recently met with three Nassau County representatives to discuss the matter. The county representatives, who specialize in traffic regulation and safety, informed Ekstrand and Harty of the two possible sites, with a possible third site on Staples Street and Route 109 where a teen was killed.

Red light camera legislation says that Farmingdale would not receive any revenue from tickets distributed as a result of the cameras. However, the main source of interest for the board was safety and traffic.

"The thing that interested me was the traffic calming," said Ekstrand, adding that the stretch of Route 109 in Farmingdale has been a longtime point of concern for safety.

"There's no way you don't slow down when you see a sign saying you're approaching a red light camera," said Ekstrand of the cameras that not only forward a driver the photo of their going through a red light, but also provide video footage that the driver can view online.

Accidents decrease 16 to 20 percent in Nassau County when a red light camera is installed, reported the board. On top of improving safety, the board said they would also like to obtain data from the county that would help with coordinating the timing of traffic lights.

The board will have a resolution prepared for the July board meeting for approval.

Scott Schirmer June 20, 2012 at 12:24 am
"Red light camera legislation says that Farmingdale would not receive any revenue from tickets distributed as a result of the cameras. However, the main source of interest for the board was safety and traffic."
So who will be receiving the revenue from our cameras? Also, the statement "Accidents decrease 16 to 20 percent in Nassau County when a red light camera is installed" is unfounded as much of the research on red light cameras state that they actually increase rear end collisions, but decrease 90-degree "T-bone" type collisions. So in essence, you trade one type of accident for another while the revenue collector profits nicely, whoever that may be in Farmingdale's case. If the government is interested in everyone’s safety, then they should increase and standardize the run-time of the yellow light and leave a slight delay in the cross traffic's transition to green. This would not only decrease collisions and increase safety, but not need any additional technology added to our current traffic light system.
Pam Robinson (Editor) June 20, 2012 at 12:50 am
Scott, all excellent points. My understanding of all this is that rear-end accidents increase initially but gradually drop to normal levels. What is of interest to me is the many reports that the timing of the yellow light decreases, which seems designed to trip people up. My impression from installation of these cameras near my house, and completely unscientific, is that fewer people are trying to beat the light and so are driving more carefully. But there are certainly many questions whenever this issue comes up and we'll be writing much more about it.
Scott Schirmer June 21, 2012 at 03:19 am
Pam I agree with your reports "that the timing of the yellow light decreases, which seems designed to trip people up." I have definitely noticed a reduction in yellow light timing on certain traffic lights after a camera has been installed. All just a money grab by the red light camera company and overseeing corrupt politicians. I'm fine with punishing people when they violate the intention of the law, but stop punishing good motorists who are only violating the letter of the law by mere fractions of a second when they 'run a red light' after it's only been red for a fraction of a second with no harm or foul to anyone. Our wallets are taxed enough. Figure out a different method of funding your political campaign.
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Jeff Cohn February 2, 2013 at 08:04 pm
We do not have any red light cameras listed on http://PhotoEnforced.com for Farmingdale. Are people reporting false locations?

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