I saw a post on Facebook stating when and where new red light cameras in Pittsburgh are going, owing to safety concerns with accidents caused by people running red lights. In Florida, and I’m sure other states, red light cameras are already in use. When I moved to Austin, I quickly found out that most Austin residents were against them. In my case, I’m indifferent: here’s why.
I don’t drive.
Transportation is a privilege.
Why are there so many cars on the road, sitting in parking lots for long periods of time (and why are parking lots so big anyway) and of course the police are out in force trying to control traffic, deal with accidents, mandatory car insurance, etc. Car insurance for an average car is easily $200/month for a basic policy. Even if you go an entire life with no accidents, you’d be out thousands upon thousands of dollars in unreturned expenses for the privilege of being able to drive. Why? If you can’t afford a car (and let’s face it, most people can’t: they lease or finance them), why have one? Insurance, interest, maintenance (or even just parts) to keep and maintain a car are a significant portion of a person’s paycheck. I’m fortunate enough that, at least when I’m working, I can easily afford a car. However, public transportation is good in Pittsburgh, and you can go most places by taking the bus for just a few dollars. It often makes me wonder: if a bus holds about 50 people, and 50 people pay $2.75 to board the bus, did PRT pay the cost of the diesel for the bus that day?
The reality of the matter is that Americans are spoiled by a privilege. A privilege is not a right. Which means penalties for DUIs is actually not harsh enough. But penalties for most things are not harsh enough. Get in a serious accident, you might be out financially for damages, your insurance might go up, BUT YOU CAN STILL DRIVE.
That needs to change. Want to control the amount of cars littering streets and parking lots? Enforce emissions controls and remove cars from the street. Also, take drivers licenses away. Period. Text and drive? There goes your license. That’s how I feel about it, and that’s how the problem would be solved.
What’s the current solution to that problem? TV advertisements say things like cameras that monitor the driver’s attentiveness to the road (probably with some sort of camera detection built in to track your pupils to see if you’re looking at the road). That technology exists and works. Certainly, your car can beep and boop to let you know that as you go 80 on a 65 toll-road that you have cars in your blind spot. We all know what happens with information overload (I’ve already talked about that!: you ignore the sensory input and just get more distracted. Cars can cut acceleration, they can brake for you, etc. However, there was a time when cars had no ABS and no seatbelts, and this country evolved from it to an overly protective and concerned approach which adds red tape and bureaucracy to a system which shouldn’t be that complicated.
How loud does your radio need to go? Has anyone stopped to think that the original iPod warned you when you listened to music too loud for an extended period of time it could damage your hearing? Yet, car stereos can be infinitely loud if you modify them. Cars will beep and boop and ding and yell and shout. However, that didn’t stop us from leaving our headlights on and draining the battery. So, now we have automatic headlights. Will kids even learn to turn their lights on when getting in a car? Seriously. Enforce the volume level of a radio, and make turning it up too loud illegal. Small, back alley neighborhoods in Pittsburgh will appreciate it.
The BS has gone on for too long. Just because something is a privilege doesn’t mean you have the ability to protect ti.
I certainly don’t, because my medical condition overrules my ability to be a safe driver without proof, and so should yours. If you want to protect people, auto manufacturers, you’re not doing it in the right ways. Think harder. If you won’t do it, the government can do it for you by limiting your audience of people buying so many cars they fill up streets with public parking spaces with cars they don’t drive, just so they can have reliable transportation to work.
Lastly, cars are not a luxury. In the northern climates where it’s cooler, air conditioning is not required. How about a cheap electric car with a user replaceable battery module that has no air conditioning and no radio? Build the ABS into the motor assembly if you want. I don’t care. Cars don’t mean luxury, they don’t need leather seats (neither does your couch), and you’ll be a lot happier when you pay attention to the road and avoid an accident than get pissed at ever higher insurance rates. Seriously.
Where is the government? Oh wait, they’re dealing with Iran.