Traffic cameras reduce accidents

Aleksey Gurtovoy is, as they say, entitled to his own opinions, but not his own facts. When he says that traffic camera enforcement does not improve traffic safety, he is either ignorant of the facts or dissembling (“Traffic camera petition filed; questions remain,” April 2 news story). Right in Cedar Rapids, camera speed enforcement on the downtown S-curve on I-380 has dramatically reduced traffic accidents and personal injury accidents.

Virtually everyone connected with highway design knows that the quickest way to reduce accidents is to reduce speeds. The simplest and most cost-effective way to do this is now with camera enforcement.

Gurtovoy says this is only about money and if “it wasn't for revenue, this wouldn't even be on the table.” Again, he's wrong. Many citizens - be they pedestrians, cyclists, or drivers - are concerned with the lack of enforcement of speeding laws on area roads, streets, and highways. We have been pressing local government to take the initiative and use camera enforcement.

As for the fines, that's the simplest way to get the attention of people who choose to break the law. If you don't want the ticket, just slow down.

Jim Walters

Iowa City