Bradenton's red-light cameras vital to public safety

I am putting in my “two cents worth” concerning the red light cameras that are already installed in Bradenton. I have never had an accident caused by a red-light runner; however, I do know that the cameras undoubtedly result in far fewer drivers trying to get across our intersections after the light turns red.

I remember distinctly one particular occasion, soon after my husband and I decided to make Manatee County our home, when we were headed for a restaurant on U.S. 41, and had parked our car on the street a couple of blocks away from the restaurant. This was during the days when automobiles still parallel-parked along the street in a lot of places.

We watched the traffic light turn red, and then counted six cars going through the light after it turned red! No, we did not see an accident, but only because the cars waiting in the opposite direction sat there until traffic cleared. They surely should not have had to wait for six cars to get out of the way before moving ahead on a green light.

Do the drivers of Bradenton and other parts of Manatee County really want to return to those days? I, for one, do not!

We have cameras already installed, which make law-abiding drivers out of the chronically-impatient drivers who do not want to wait their turn. The cameras are working. Why should we want to return to the days of waiting at crossroads while impatient drivers pull out ahead of us whose turn has come, yet have to wait for rude drivers in order to avoid being hit?

I have unintentionally gone through several yellow lights, and have actually expected to get a ticket two or three times, but have not ever received one. I firmly believe that if you get a ticket for running a red light, you definitely deserve to get it, and you should pay for the ticket while you thank heaven that it’s just a ticket and not a bad accident!

This story was originally published August 24, 2016 at 3:40 PM with the headline "Bradenton's red-light cameras vital to public safety."