That's an incredibly dangerous intersection - northbound cars that want to exit on Hayward Rd need to turn left across the southbound lanes - so hopefully reducing speeds will help somewhat.

They can play this "safety" argument all they like. But in the end this is about whacking people who are driving safely but within the safe speed of the road. This hidden report out of the UK proves speed cameras CAUSE MORE WRECKS! http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/06/602.asp

Watch out for the scamera operators near the beggining and end of the zone. Most of what they cite are not where the workers are but just after or just before the end of the zones.

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/29/2930.asp Quote: "I really just could not believe that they would park that close to the end of a construction zone," Stefanuik said. "It was absolutely ridiculous. It's inappropriate... They're obviously trying to take advantage of a motorist who, after being tied up in the slow area of the zone, starts to speed up prematurely as they approach the end and enter a higher speed zone."

http://www.stopbigbrothermd.org/
www.banthecams.org
www.camerafraud.com
www.motorists.org

The SHA put out a report in 2005 which showed that speed trailers('Your Speed Signs'), without speed cameras, were effective at reducing average speeds by up to 7mph in work zones: http://www.sha.maryland.gov/OOTS/03Speed%20DisplayTrailer.pdf
This is about the same reduction the SHA said they got at these speed camera sites which also currently have speed trailers present. Speed trailers are not a standard feature at work zones where speed cameras aren't in use. The 'special introductory offer' of placing them near workzone speed cameras is likely to end sometime after November 2nd.

In the report the Towson times did on this the SHA rep admitted they do not yet have data showing the cameras have reduced accidents. They certainly would have said so if they had any.

Meanwhile, the SHA has admitted that the speed limit was recently lowered in Brentwood an Mount rainier by 10mph at their new camera sites. The optotraffic cameras in Brentwood and Forest Heights are being investigated for bogus speed readings. Of course that investigation is being done just by the contractor, since citizens getting tickets from Forest Heights have been unable to get court dates to challenge them. Drivers who requested hearings were instead told their registrations would be suspended if they did not pay. So Dresser, should I assume you are OK with that kind of fraud and violation of due process against drivers?

COMMENT: I'm not OK with any type of fraud, but I have only your assertions to go on -- and one is false on its face. The SHA does not have a camera in Mt. Ranier. Perhaps there's a school zone camera run by Prince George's County. I do know that both speed limit reductions and camera deployments are often the result of community demand. I also know the fact that one misinformed bureaucrat's misunderstanding of a law doesn't make it a bad law. Speed trailers are great, by the way. They're just not a substitute for penaliziing lawbreakers.

Mount Rainier and Brentwood manage the cameras, SHA changed the signs. Mt Rainier & Brentwood get most of the revenue from those cameras but if it exceeds a certain threshold then the state would gets some as well thus the state had an incentive to approve this. My assertion was confirmed by the Washington Examiner and by documents provided in response to an MPIA which are published on the StopBigBrotherMD.org website. We also have photographic proof on our website. Brentwood also changed the speed limit on a local road.. down to 15mph... and this was confirmed in a document released by Mount Rainier which is also linked from our site.

If the change in speed limit was due to popular demand and not a desire to generate more camera revenue then why was it not done until 2010 when speed cameras were first added?

One example of the camera errors and the court hearing issue was reported on abc news. I have received emails from several individuals all of whom said they requested hearings from Forest Heights and were instead sent late notices threatening registration suspensions.

--Ron Ely, Editor of StopBigBrotherMD.org

I noticed Saturday the work zone speed limit on 95 at the ICC is the same as the regular speed limit - 65 mph. Add 11 to that and you can travel at 76 mph and not get a photo ticket. Think about it. SHA is saying it is safe to drive 76 mph in this construction zone. I say if the speed limit doesn't change then it is not a construction speed zone. No one can deny that this one is a money grab.