Travelling Thru East Tennessee?

brazos parker · Mar 26, 2010

I hope this thread doesn't descend into a political discussion...I have no intention of doing so. I'm posting this as a public service message abt safety of 2 wheel riders.

Johnson City,TN has 1 operational photo-enforced intersection w/ 5 more planned.

Jonesborough, TN has 3 operational photo-enforced intersections.

Kingsport, TN has at least 1 operational photo-enforced intersection...maybe more, but I don't know for sure.

Bluff City, TN has an operational speed-trap camera.

Bristol, TN/VA...I have no information about this town.

Here's the safety part...

I've looked a some statistics concerning "red-light" cameras. It looks like angle collisions in photo-enforced intersections are decreased but rear-end collisions are significantly increased as drivers slow or even stop for stale green lights. Some communities have even shortened yellow light times at photo-enforced intersections for "obvious" reasons. In JoCy, when asked to comment on citizen complaints abt shortened yellow light times, a local LEO representative said something to the effect "...yellow light times are set by the Engineering Department."

The increase in rear-end collisions is a particular danger to motorcycle riders.

My point of all this is...when riding thru this area of East Tennessee, be paticularly aware of traffic on your 12 o'clock slowing unexpectedly at photo-enforced intersections (they are marked but the signs are not real obvious) and, then, be even more aware of traffic on your 6 o'clock that is unaware/oblivious to the slowing traffic.

Burnspot · Mar 26, 2010

We used to have a bunch of those around here in our little town and other parts of NC. Somebody took legal action when it was determined that the schools and cities weren't getting enough of a cut...and removed them all. :clapping:

Just revenue and crash generators IMHO.

fjrchooser · Mar 27, 2010

Damn Brazos, take some of them discarded tires from your front yard and hang them where they can do some good ! By the way, moonshine is a great accelerant.

brazos parker · Mar 27, 2010

Burnspot said:
Just revenue and crash generators IMHO.

I agree. I even have a Letter to the Editor in the Johnson City Press explaining just that sentiment. And, a sheriff from a nearby county was quoted in the paper saying these cameras are nothing more than revenue generators.

slapnpop · Mar 27, 2010

brazos parker said:
In JoCy, when asked to comment on citizen complaints abt shortened yellow light times, a local LEO representative said something to the effect "...yellow light times are set by the Engineering Department."

This particularly concerns me because I was on the crew that installed most of the traffic lights in JoCy during the '90s. I know for a fact that the JoCy traffic light system is much more capable than it's current implementation. The controllers are capable of being interlinked, allowing greater traffic flow and better timing on the major routes. JoCy doesn't use this feature, however, because it would have cost an extra $50k at the time for the company to come program this feature. The "engineer" in charge of the traffic lights in JoCy decided it was a better use of the tax payer dollars to have himself set up the system, and do a very poor job of it. Ever notice how in JoCy you can only get through one light, and then you're immediately stuck at the next on Roan street? Thank that guy! Of course, this is the same guy who would then be changing the yellow light timers. If you're ever bored, stopwatch a yellow. 3 seconds is still the minimum in TN.