Speed Cameras are being installed in school zones

General Discussion
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An update on the Original Posting of this Topic…

School Zone Speed Cameras from my local Sheriff’s report – York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office.

According to the sheriff’s office, during the first three weeks of the new school year, cameras recorded 1,156 violations at six schools — a dramatic decrease from last November of 2023, when a speed survey at five schools for five days showed a total of 3,725 violations in five days.

It added that the number of violations has also dropped each week:
Week 1 — 490 violations in four days
Week 2 — 439 violations in four days
Week 3 — 227 violations in five days

Starting Sept. 25, the cameras will be operational and issue citations to drivers who exceed the speed limit by more than 10 mph in designated school zones, the sheriff’s office said. Violations recorded and sent after that date will be punishable by a $100 civil fine.

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Our buses have camera installed. I’m not sure if having cameras everywhere makes driving safer as I feel extreme intensity while driving on the road since the watchdogs have their eyes out on me and everyone else now. The more careful I seem to drive, the more errors I make. The feeling from being watched feels like you have to be perfect, and that comes with uneasiness and consequences.

The slightest thing now makes me jump out of the driver’s seat. It’s really uncomfortable.

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A co-worker friend had a similar problem. Immigrant w/little driving practice before arriving in USA. I took a test ride w/her, and noticed right away in city driving she seemed like she wanted to “push” the car ahead to make it go faster. So she ended up right behind, just a few feet away, from the car ahead most all the time. Very little chance for avoidance maneuvers w/that technique. When I pointed this out, she said she hadn’t realized she was doing it. She said she wasn’t doing it to get to the destination faster, only b/c she thought this was the right way to drive. Her driving problems promptly reduced, although she still had a tendency to lose her credit card … lol …

So maybe a slight modification to your driving strategy might work to your benefit. In your normal driving, how far do you position your car behind the car in front of you? When you see the car in front’s brake lights turn on, what do you do? As you approach a stop light controlled intersection with a green light showing, do you go faster to try to make it through before the lights change? Or do you reduce speed, anticipating the lights may change?

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I leave a large gap between me and the driver in front at all times. And I have a tendency to do that at the traffic light also when I’m first in line. My passengers always joke that I’m scared of inflicting my car with Covid as to why I stay so far behind, and just last night a police officer controlling an intersection took issue with me for not pulling up closer to the intersection.

But why do I do this?

Fear of a lawsuit. I dont want to get scammed by a brake checker and then having to worry about legal consequences. I don’t want to get too close to the intersection, except when driving through it, out of fear some pedestrians gonna get me in trouble with the law.

There are so many rules to follow in Newyork that driving has become an easy way to ruin one’s life.

My mother is currently in court trying to defend herself from being sued for emotional damage.

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Even with the green arrow on, I proceed with caution because I can’t hear if an emergency vehicle is approaching. I also check for maniacs. Too often I see here people flying through the red light.

I mostly get anxious now when I see a posted sign stating I’m being watched. Around here, as mentioned already in this thread, there are signs about school zone and work zone, and these signs tend to have threatening messages on them, like you will get double fines for speeding in working zone and up to a certain time on jail.

I went to a social gathering for the disabled last night and everyone was so afraid of these fines and cameras. Some people are for more rules and some get anxiety attack. Many of the disabled women were happy that they don’t have a driver license so nothing to worry about for them. Others who are licensed argued that if we are to stop for a school bus on both sides of the road, then all trees in the middle of the road must be removed.

So yes, George, when making rules, as a nation, we have to think of everyone and not just the kids. The stricter the rules, the harder it becomes for the disabled ones.

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I think what George is saying is that the more fines people have to pay, the less discretionary money they have to support local businesses.

Of course, as usual I could be wrong.

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Maybe you should only drive when absolutely necessary. If you and others are going to the same place, get a ride with them or find alternate transportation. I see little reason to cause yourself the angst that you say you experience.

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The problem I see with your suggestion, and I’m sure you didn’t mean to be understood this way, is that it discriminates against the disabled.

A disabled person shouldn’t need to give up their independence over a law forcing them to, and this seems to be the case for many disabled people with regards to stopping for the school bus on both sides of the road, even on a divided highway. I’m probably the only disabled person you know who have an issue with school bus laws but I know several disabled people who do and only travel on back roads since the law is now enforced. Some of these disabled people have said they are moving out if NY for this reason but what they don’t seem to understand is that this law concerning school buses will be adopted nationwide eventually.

I live in a small and busy village and every corner around here there is a school bus with a trooper hiding behind it to fine violators. it’s so hard to keep up with these buses.

As a nation, we should make life safe and manageable for everyone without taking away anyone’s independence.

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This is my advice for you; if you are this unsure of your driving, then you should seriously consider taking Driving Lessons from a Professional Driving School. You have developed a style of driving that is probably unsafe, it not illegal; and by your own admission, you age is also contributing to your issues…

You wrote, “As you approach a stop light controlled intersection with a green light showing, do you go faster to try to make it through before the lights change? Or do you reduce speed, anticipating the lights may change?”

If you do not know that you should maintain the speed limit to keep the flow of traffic moving smoothly, then you do not belong on the road. How do you even decide whether you should slam on the brakes or proceed through an intersection if the Yellow Light should come on before you reach the intersection?

You should also contact your local Senior Center, almost all Senior Centers offer classes conducted by AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons. Their classes specialize with the difficulties facing older drivers… Their Classes address:…

*** Defensive driving… (safe driving, including how to avoid distractions and handle left turns, right-of-way, and roundabouts)

*** Safety features… (How to properly use safety belts, airbags, anti-lock brakes, and other car technologies…)

*** Road rules… (State-specific rules and regulations – such as those for construction zones, child safety seats, and school buses…)

Hey did I just write School buses??? I sure did!!!)

*** Medication and age-related changes:… (How medication can affect driving, and how age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time can impact driving…)

*** Driving conditions… (How to navigate challenging driving conditions…)

Most AARP Classes taught at various locations do have a cost (AARP? Members get a discount…), some locations, various businesses or organizations (religious organizations, non-profits, etc…) may pay the cost… Many Insurances companies also offer multi-year discounts for the course…

However, here is an online course that might just help you a bit, but there is no beating the in-person experience!

So, this provides you the opportunity to do something about your issues and problems and quit commiserating about them…

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Are you sure I wrote this? :grin:

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I’m going to challenge you, Thunder, but first let me say I don’t normally do this out of respect for the older guys.

A green arrow does not necessarily mean you should go with the speed of traffic. You do have a responsibility to ensure the safety of pedestrians and motorists occupying the intersection regardless of the green arrow. Everyone, and even more so for the deaf, must approach the intersection with caution. A green light does not necessarily mean GO.

Concerning yellow light, it depends on how far away or close you are to the intersection. I’ve never found myself in a situation where I needed to slam on the brake for a yellow light.

I’m a middle age guy. Early 40s. Much love and respect :v:

Edit. Just recalled that we have like one or two traffic lights around here that change color rather quickly. And yes, those lights are annoying. I wonder what makes certain traffic lights change faster than others ?

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Stop with the Handicap nonsense . Your problem is that you are a lousy driver and refuse to acknowledge that you make many mistakes.

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Disabled or not - You need to obey ALL traffic laws. If you physically or mentally unable to, then you should NOT have a license. Your independence should NOT be paramount to the safety of everyone else on the road.

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Yes, I am not disabled, but I have to stop for school buses, I have to follow the 15 MPH when light is flashing in a school zone, etc, etc, etc.
Please Clueless, follow advice from LoudThunder.
Or relocate out of any large city.

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I apologize for misquoting you, this was not your posting, it was a question made by another member for you in response to one of your other postings… Blame it on my “advanced age” as I was last in my “early 40’s” over 30-years ago… L :rofl: L . . .

But the many issues you address are similar to the difficulties that older drivers face, so the fact that you are not a “senior citizen” does not bear any fruit. My local senior center is open to those 55 and older, and many who are in their 50s do not consider themselves "seniors…

If you are not comfortable contacting a senior center about an AARP course, the AAA also offers various drivers course, along with numerous commercial driving schools, all you have to do is Google “driver safety courses” to find out what is available in your local area.

And my advice that you also consider taking some driving classes with a professional driving instructor is still a valid point. They can pick out your bad driving habits and help you address some of those driving anxieties….

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As someone with a crippling neurological disease (found in 2016ish) on full disability (since10/2021) not to mention the wonderful back issues, where it hurts like hell to lean over and wash my hands or brush my teeth, as well as worked with many great disabled customers that drove to and in Nashville traffic with 3 intertwining interstates going through the center of it… One great customer in a wheelchair (paralyzed waist down) had a few vehicles with hand controls and never complained or had any wrecks, he also asked us NOT to open the door for him, I think his main car was a Grand AM or something that size, so no ramps, he was mid 40’s also…
Point being, driving is a 2 part process, part one is the physical ability to do so, part two is the mental ability to drive which consist of multitasking also… Part 1 can be overcome by hand control and training, part 2 is you either are able to mentally handle the task of driving or you are not, that is a little harder to overcome, if you do not have the mental capability to drive a vehicle in stressful situation’s, then you are a danger to not only yourself, but others around you, kinda like driving drunk or high… It doesn’t matter if your IQ is very high, that doesn’t mean you can walk and chew gum at the same time… I know at some point I will no longer be safe to drive a vehicle, it will be a very sad day for someone that loves driving fast, but it is what it is… If you get confused behind the wheel of a 4,000 car (example) and a lot of things happen all at once and you get confused, your reflexes will slow down and that can be dangerous, a second or 2 at 50 mph delay can cost you your life, just like drinking and driving slows your reflexes down (on top of other bad things)…

The last thing I’m sure you would ever want is to be the cause of a crash that took someone’s life… And sadly from your own typed words, you are heading down that road… Sometimes you (generally speaking) are the last to know…

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In disabled groups, these people mask their fear so the world doesn’t see them as weak. I’m not talking about myself. I’m talking about disabled people in general. They will oppose to be helped and focus on proving to the world they are normal.

It only takes living with them to know otherwise. And since I’ve been disabled since birth, I know what I’m talking about. It’s my culture.

Disabled people are already looked down upon and doubted by society. The last thing a disabled person wants to admit is that a task is hard.

I have given this forum no reason to judge my driving ability and still I’m under harsh judgment. This is why disabled people act tough and fearless while hiding the truth within themselves.

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I have a physical disability and not a mental one. However, one doesn’t need to have a mental disability to freak out at school buses that pop out of no where at every so corner with a jail sentence warning. People in my circle who have no health issues whatever hate seeing the bus around here because of the stupid rule about stopping for the bus on the other side of the road.

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It is not a stupid rule . It is time for you to stop posting about your many driving problems because you are not going to get the replies you want.

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In this forum, people don’t seem to have any issues with the tightened school bus rules but just a little glimpse at other forums tells a total different story.

Just google Reddit and Quora on the subject. Those people are happy they don’t live in NY.