Philippine authorities and the local media think that they’ve found the antidote against erring motorists-traffic cameras!
From the Philippine Star,
The MMDA said its enforcers, armed with cameras and speed tracking guns, will man strategic portions of the highway to make sure motorists observe the speed limit. Violators caught on camera and tracked by speed guns will be sent notices within seven days, following the agency’s “no contact” policy.
Unfortunately, as always they are likely to be wrong. That’s because the relationship between speed cameras and accidents have been ambiguous.
This from the Economist, (bold emphasis mine)
TRAFFIC cameras are always controversial. Proponents maintain that an increase in their number results in fewer deaths on the roads. Opponents grumble that they are merely money spinners for local governments at the motorist’s expense. Drivers in Edmonton, Canada, will be refunded for speeding fines issued since November 2009 because of a technical glitch with a particular camera. In Britain, the government’s claims over improved safety were rebuffed by the British Medical Journal, and local councils have begun to turn off cameras. Research carried out recently in Australia by Queensland University points the other way, showing cameras do reduce accidents. The arguments will continue. Our chart shows that the effectiveness of traffic cameras is inconclusive, perhaps because many other factors contribute to road safety, such as population density, the condition of vehicles and roads, and other pedestrian-protection measures.
Authorities are likely to underestimate people’s reaction towards new rules and overestimate on their power to control or regulate people’s behavior.
Yet such “do something” attitude would likely succumb to the ningas cogon trap (enthusiasm only at the start of the project) brought about time consistency problem (popular policies are put in place due to the public’s fickle demand for it) and political grandstanding by the authorities that would lead to inconsistent and arbitrary implementation (in pursuit of popularity, new policies and its implementation will be redirected towards issues or flavors of the day).
Bottom line: Government use of taxpayer resources on these “fashionable” policies will likely end up wasted, the government will fail to accomplish its goal, and at worst, such new policies risks unforeseen consequences.
