The Great Debate in Utilizing CCTV to Monitor Traffic Safety
Have you ever driven your car in busy rush hour traffic only to witness the kind of behavior that has you turning to your passenger exclaiming, “did you see that?” You may have witnessed the Audi driver who just cut off another car with the breath of a hair to spare – while he was reading the sports page of the local newspaper and operating the car at the same time. You may have noticed the lady in her Toyota removing unwanted facial hair with her tweezers while driving – instead of paying attention to the intersection she is approaching – missing the pedestrian who was about to step into traffic just barely. You may have seen the pickup truck going around a corner so close to the curb that pedestrians at a traffic light actually have to jump back to avoid being hit. You may have noticed the nonchalant manner in which the cab runs a traffic light and leaves a couple of cars almost crashing into each other in his wake – blissfully oblivious of the chaos that is behind him. Of course, do you not wish someone were there watching when the rent-a-wreck behind you suddenly slams into you, only to then drive around you and continue on her merry way, not even stopping to see if you and your children are okay, much less remaining behind to exchange insurance information?
If these scenarios are all too familiar to you, then you are probably more than willing to engage in the great debate in utilizing CCTV to monitor traffic safety. Closed-circuit television, also known as CCTV, refers to the technology that permits third parties to see what is going on at intersections, on the road, and on highways via the use of television cameras which send back images of current events to monitors that are usually located inside a surveillance station. As a matter of fact, CCTV technology is already in place in many major cities to keep an eye on known hotspots within the highway grid. The advantages of this system are plentiful:
If an accident occurs on the highway, the authorities will be summoned quickly as information can be shared immediately.
As the accident is sorted out in the aftermath, the surveillance tapes may be used in court to ascertain fault and negligence.
To prevent bottlenecks from occurring, and to help other drivers to be aware early on for the need of taking alternate routes, many times the data is used to update the electronic message signs that are now so frequent on major thoroughfares in this country which will inform drivers of accidents up ahead, the waiting time involved, and also alternative routes that are available to circumnavigate the scene of the accident. Traffic reporters will have access to the information to further inform drivers who may not yet have left home, or who may be listening in on the radio to find out what is going on ahead.
While this kind of travel information is useful for successful travel management and traveler information, the collectors of the data are quick to point out that the individuals’ privacy is still protected and in no way compromised. In other words, these cameras will not be used to spy on individuals who may be traveling along the major highways. For those who are hoping to rid the roads of newspaper reading or make up applying drivers, this is a bit of a disappointment – after all, until these individuals are caught in an accident, their activities are private and will not be disturbed.
In cases where modes of public transportation are involved, these CCTV systems are instrumental in ascertaining the needs of passengers, and by properly directing emergency personnel, relief buses and trains, and also by advising other passengers of delays.
Of course, even though there are a lot of benefits to such CCTV technology, there is a still a lot of discussion about their uses. Something just rubs people the wrong way when it comes to being under surveillance. It is easy to understand how easily and quickly this system could be misused, and while not being deterred from continuing the use of CCTV, the traffic safety commissions have made a number of concessions that are thought to appease critics of the system:
- Surveillance is announced with signs that are posted well ahead of the site where cameras are located. Furthermore, such signs are posted periodically throughout the area where cameras are installed.
- Cameras are highly visible and in no way obscured.
- Rules, regulations, and procedures are put in place to ensure that the cameras are used only for their intended purposes.
