Will Video Surveillance Change Our Driving Habits?

In recent years, video surveillance has taken its security measures from the office to the streets. People are becoming more and more involved in fast paced lives, and this lifestyle has impaired safety on the road. We’ve all seen a car speed through a red light and wondered, “Where is a police officer when we need one?” Now, technology has answered that question with security cameras. 

The cameras we are most familiar with are seen above stoplights. These day or night surveillance cameras are synchronized with the red light. When the light turns red, the camera(s) snap photos. If there is a vehicle running the red light, the photo identifies the vehicle’s license plat and a copy of the photo will be mailed to the driver along with a ticket. These cameras are placed visibly, in hopes that the number of red lights ran will decrease and the number of intersection accidents along with it. 

There are cameras monitoring more than just stop light violations. Security surveillance is also in place to monitor accidents. If a motor-vehicle accident happens under on of the video surveillance camera’s “eyes,” information about the incident- license numbers, cause of accident, damage- will be accurately recorded. This data will assist not only insurance claim accuracy, but conviction of hit-and-run and other offenses. 

Traffic surveillance doesn’t stop there. The use of electronics only at toll booths has emboldened people to by pass their toll. Failure to pay at toll booths has cost states millions of dollars in revenue per year. This has led to the installation of security cameras at toll booths. If a driver decides to speed through without paying the toll, the camera will catch his license plate number and a ticket will be promptly mailed to him. Fines for such an offense can reach $100 or more. 

Our streets may never be safe enough to play in, but, maybe, with the implementation of traffic surveillance, they’ll soon be safe enough to drive in.

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