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Two stories this week stick out, to me, as common sense, slam dunk improvements for public safety on our streets and highways. I know many of you may have already found a way to comment on these matters, but I welcome your opinion here, too.
First, the city of Syracuse's move to put as many as 50 red light cameras at busy intersections. State lawmakers are expected to OK this, and if common council also approves, within a matter of months, we could see automatic enforcement against red light runners. Several upstate cities will be following New York City's lead on this. The Big Apple and dozens of other cities across the country have been using these cameras to cut down on right angle, or T-bone crashes and to reduce the number of pedestrians struck by cars that run red lights. The camera eye never blinks: it catches the plate number of offending vehicles and you get a ticket in the mail. No police officers needed. Beyond the deterrent factor and overall aid to safety, the city would get a piece of the $50 fine, so there's a ready source of revenue here, too for the always-cash-strapped city budget. Millions.
And, why NOT ban texting while driving? Onondaga County lawmakers this week became the latest county legislature to go there, approving a ban that will take effect on July 1-st. To me, it's a natural add-on to the statewide law against talking on a cell phone while driving. As a newly-minted teenage driver...many, many moons ago...I ran my father's car off the road while reaching down to grab a Kleenex or something from the floor. Wrecked the car. Coulda killed myself and my sister. Driver inexperience, for sure. But why ADD to the distractions? Trying to communicate with someone by fingering letters on a cell phone while you should be focused on the road ahead...is a prescription for trouble...and we know that. So, hats off the hands-free approach to safe driving. The text message, the phone call, can wait. Unless it's a true emergency. But let's not create more emergencies.
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