Drivers behave when they’re being watched

Carol McClendon, Henderson

Friday, Feb. 11, 2011 | 2:02 a.m.

Regarding the “To Watch You” article in Saturday’s Las Vegas Sun, about proposals to install red-light cameras:

I find it to be a no-brainer. It’s right up there with making cell phone texting against the law. Did you ever see the “MythBusters” segment when the cell phone user drove more dangerously than the drunk?

With respect to traffic intersections, new residents should be warned not to advance quickly on a green light because, as I’ve observed, several more cars are likely to come through the red light.

A camera was installed at a high-risk intersection in the Southern California county where I lived. I would sit there and laugh as drivers almost did a 180 to avoid running even a yellow light. The accident rate went down considerably during the first quarter the light was implemented.

There’s no getting out of a clear picture if a driver commits an infraction. Cameras work and I know of nowhere else where they would be of more value.