It all harkens back to my post-Army days, when I worked as a civilian for the military newspaper at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.
I was a speedometer watcher because I know that if you speed on a military post, you WILL get a ticket. One day I’m leaving the post and I come up on an MP in the lane beside me. My heartbeat quickens and I automatically get off the gas, even though I’m not speeding. My eyes fixate on my speedometer.
And yet, I get pulled over. The MP asks for my paperwork and I, indignant, ask why I’ve been pulled over. He says I just ran the red light.
Confused, I ask, “Was it yellow and turned red as I drove through the intersection?
“No ma’am, it was red and I was stopped at it,” he replied.
Oh.
So my obsession over not breaking one traffic law lead me to break a different one.
I’m reminded of this every time I go through a Lakeland intersection enforced by the red light cameras. Honestly, I try to avoid those intersections altogether because I just get so worked up when I’m at them.
They’re making me do ridiculous things. Sometimes I come up on the intersection and the light is green, but I automatically begin slowing down, for fear the light will change and I’ll get busted.
Other times, I whiz up to the intersection, feeling particularly confident on that day for some unknown reason, and the light turns yellow. Suddenly, I’m faced with two choices: “drive it like I stole it” through the intersection, or slam on the brakes and wind up with a lapful of groceries. Decisions, decisions.
I can be stopped at one of these intersections and someone else will run a red light. But there’s something psychological about seeing that camera flash. Automatically, I freak out, wondering what I’ve done.
My husband won’t even turn right on red at these intersections anymore. “Just in case,” he says.
Maybe these cameras are a good thing, maybe not. I just know this: they are making a nervous wreck out of me.
Bio: This is a creative outlet and soapbox for Lorrie Delk Walker where, at times, she has stuck her foot so far into her mouth, surely she has quashed any hopes of ever being elected to public office. Lorrie is a writer, avid recycler, small-time chicken farmer, SPCA foster parent and fan of all things Downtown Lakeland. Posts from Delk Walker's popular blog, Takes From the Delk Side, were added to the Lakeland Local archives and can be found here.
Petra Norris
4 months ago
You are not alone. I noticed that folks driving through these intersections slow down when it is still green and slam the breaks when the light turns yellow. Now, I must admit that I’m as hesitant when it comes to driving through these intersections as well.
B.Hall
4 months ago
I’m seeing a lot of accidents nearly occur from people slamming on their brakes and nearly being rear-ended.
I’ve personally started detouring through residential areas to avoid those cameras. The locals probably hate it, but if it saves me hundreds of dollars in either fines or car repairs, so be it.
Lori C.
4 months ago
I agree with red light cameras producing nervous drivers. Beacon and South Florida I begin either speeding up while it is green to hurry up and go through OR I slow down anticipating the change to yellow and have stopped suddenly much to the chagrin of the drivers behind me. I cannot afford the ticket…am I creating a safety hazard by stopping suddenly??? probably….so are a bunch of other drivers too I’m sure.
Lakelander
4 months ago
The “right on red” issue is particulaly nerve-wracking. If you’re like me, you haven’t read the Florida driver’s manual in many, many years. You just have to stop BEFORE the white stop bar. Then proceed to edge up to make the turn. Of course, you have to edge up pretty far because of all the plants, posts, and benches blocking a clear view of the oncoming traffic. I always pray that there will be too much traffic ahead of me to allow the thought of a right turn on red, lest I do it incorrectly in the eyes of the camera.
Clay
4 months ago
The panicked reaction that some drivers have to the sight of a RLC will, in fact, be a significant cause of accidents. It’s all about the money.
Rob
4 months ago
Worst recession any of us will ever see in our lifetimes again, and the only thing our city can think about is taxing (and tickets are just another tax) the working citizens more and more. I can’t believe there are fools that actually believe the cameras were installed to promote safety and not used as just another revenue stream at the expense of the residents. Buddy Fletcher and his cronies unanimously voted for the system with giant dollar signs in their eyes.
It’s not about safety, it’s all about the money.
I’m very pleased that so few people have decided to pay these fines for right turns. Let’s all hope the lawsuit will be a success as well.