red light cameras redlighted

One of the best summaries of the red light camera debate is available from MSNBC today:

Last week, Dallas officials reviewed the numbers and decided that a quarter of the cameras they had installed to catch motorists running red lights were too effective. So they shut them down.

They are not alone. Faced with data showing that drivers pay attention to cameras at intersections — resulting in fewer ticketable violations and ever-shrinking revenue from fines — municipalities across the country are reconsidering red light cameras, which often work too well.

When they don't work, which is also often, they're either counterproductive or just too expensive. We're right back where we began.

(Longer-lasting yellow lights, on the other hand, are safe--and cheap.)