Nassau County has formally asked the state last week for permission to install as many as 56 speed camera in school zones.
At the risk of sounding repetitive, we believe this is a bad idea for the following reasons:
· There is no data to support the need for speed cameras in the school zones. The number of traffic-related injuries countywide has declined in recent years;
· This is a gimmick to raise funds for what the Daily News calls a “cash-strapped county” at the expense of drivers;
· The only beneficiary of this feel-good proposal is the out-of-state company that will manufacture and service the cameras;
· Stop signs, red-light and speed cameras should only be used to enhance public safety;
· The county has greatly exaggerated the revenue that may be generated by the cameras;
· So far no one but this newspaper and, to some extent, NIFA have had the guts to say that this plan has no clothes;
· The county will use the speed-camera gimmick as a justification for eliminating or reducing the hours worked by the school crossing guards.
Until the county can address these considerations, the red-light camera purchase and installation should be put on hold.
