Comments
DONNIENARC0 t1_j3wl04o wrote
Yeah. I commute 83 daily and still haven't seen a bad wreck around the Northern Parkway bend since they installed these whereas it felt like it used to happen every other week or so in the past. It really felt like you could expect atleast one accident there every time there was a decent bit of inclement weather in that area.
The biggest difference for me anecdotally seems to be that most people just don't weave 80 around that bend anymore, and the ones that try to largely can't because all lanes generally slow to ~55 because of people dodging the cameras. Even if they're successful in going 80 around there for a week or something, I'd bet they'd stop pretty quick after getting pelted with a barrage of $40 tickets.
E: on a slightly unrelated note, I think this is the first time I've seen them actually acknowledge that they can't pull people over even if they wanted to because of the lack of road shoulders...
> BCDOT: Traditional methods of speed enforcement are not possible on I-83 within Baltimore City due to the existing width of roadway shoulders, fiscal and engineering constraints, and resource challenges.
The_Waxies_Dargle t1_j3xdr3v wrote
> I've seen them actually acknowledge that they can't pull people over even if they wanted to because of the lack of road shoulders...
I had a cop light me up on 83. I was between Cold Spring and Northern and so I went to Northern, exited 83 and pulled over where there was a nice big shoulder. Cop went ballistic on me accusing me of ignoring him.
I got off with a warning. So maybe he recognized I was looking out for his well being.
megalomike t1_j3wlz0n wrote
yeah the flow of traffic feels much safer now, for whatever that's worth.
Velghast t1_j3xhu3c wrote
People just avoid speeding in front of the cameras now there's always a slowdown where the camera is and then as soon as people are past the camera it's right back to 80 mph and weaving out of traffic.
Willothwisp2303 t1_j3xnx2t wrote
Seems like a good argument for adding a camera at the next bend in the road north, too. Anywhere people need to slow down and instead hit eachother on the regular.
atomlinson89 t1_j3wgpit wrote
I mean i applaud them, but they need to be all along 83 to do anything. What I see more than anything is everyone slamming on their brakes causing backups as they approach the cameras and then speeding off after they pass them.
YorickTheCat t1_j3x0rji wrote
I haven't seen the slamming on the breaks so much, but I do see people gun it and drive like complete dicks when they know they are out of camera range.
baltimorecalling t1_j3wxnpj wrote
Definitely need them along 83 between Cold Spring Lane and Eager St. That section is an engineering nightmare.
SaveFailsafe t1_j3x3i68 wrote
They need a camera at every entrance/exit that timestamps your plate and calculates your average speed when you exit. If average speed greater than speed limit then you get ticket. Too many people just slam on the brakes for the camera and then go right back to 80mph.
atomlinson89 t1_j3x5bcn wrote
While yes, also, they don't even have that on the EZ pass express lanes
artie_effim t1_j3xdmrm wrote
No one would use EZPass if they did that. The benefits must outweigh that decision.
engin__r t1_j3xsrjw wrote
I am kind of curious why they haven’t done that. It seems like it would be pretty easy to set up.
mrd49 t1_j3x1z57 wrote
I would like to know why they put up infrastructure for 6 cameras but we are now only using 2 of them. I remember that The Sun said that there would be 6 installed but only 2 active at once. Does anyone know if that is still the plan?
BmoreCityDOT t1_j3xrfab wrote
We are currently authorized to operate two live speed cameras at one time on I-83.
PitBullTherapy t1_j40yam3 wrote
Y’all should randomly turn on 2 at a time. Keep us guessing.
-JG-77- t1_j408qj4 wrote
Is there a reasoning behind this limit?
bmore t1_j3xuudr wrote
County legislators who argue local control all day love to prevent Baltimore from having the same authority because they're hypocrites who speed to their downtown law firms.
z3mcs OP t1_j3x9qvy wrote
BmoreCityDOT t1_j3wnh2m wrote
Thank you for posting! (You beat us 🤣)
z3mcs OP t1_j3wqd44 wrote
Haha, no problem! When I posted the clip I thought about that you're on here. I probably should have tagged you.
BmoreCityDOT t1_j3wqp28 wrote
No, we genuinely appreciate it! This program has been a huge success in terms of slowing down and keeping people much much safer.
The_Waxies_Dargle t1_j3xe7bg wrote
Curious how are you defining success?
5wiresam t1_j3y0nr3 wrote
I can see the stretch of 83 by Union/Woodberry from my house. Used to see/hear accidents multiple times a day on that really bad stretch of road. From what I can tell there has been an incredible decline in accidents that started as soon as that camera came online, and such accidents are now unusual rather than nearly constant.
My only complaint is that the flash isn't aimed -at all-, and I get strobe lights through my bedroom window with every ticket almost 1/2 mile from the camera. How hard can it be to put some hoods on those things?
z3mcs OP t1_j3wfbif wrote
>Baltimore Banner: What are the takeaways from the first months of data collection from the I-83 cameras?
>BCDOT : We are seeing evidence of slower speeds on I-83. Below is the breakdown of the total 153,251 citations issued:
>Northbound I-83, W 41st St.: 70,933
>Southbound I-83, W 41st St.: 82,318
>During the 90-day warning phase, 202,071, warnings were issued. During the first 90 days of live citations, 109,851 warnings were issued, indicating that the effects trickled down. This corresponds to a 54.3% drop in warnings and citations issued since the program’s implementation.
>Meanwhile, the average issued warning/citation speed has dropped from 65.9 mph to 65.3 mph, indicating that motorists are slowing down. Official crash data for the corridor will not be available until summer 2023 when it is submitted to city DOT by the Maryland Highway Safety Office.
65.9 to 65.3 is.... weak. Good info in this article though. And there are two reader questions that are answered.
EthanSayfo t1_j3xapzu wrote
Yeah, but that's the speed drop for people who are issued warnings or citations, not everyone driving by. Quite obviously, average speeds have slowed down considerably where the cameras are installed.
Ghant_ t1_j3wt581 wrote
109,851 tickets at $40 a pop adds up to $4,394,040 in 90 days.*
Does this money go to the city or the police department? I assume the company that maintains the cameras gets a solid portion of the profits too
Edit:ticket price change
DONNIENARC0 t1_j3wuhj3 wrote
> the legislation for the I-83 speed camera program requires that all revenues be directed toward the cost of operating the camera program on I-83 and I-83 roadway safety improvements within Baltimore City.
Ghant_ t1_j3wxk0g wrote
Incoming gold guard rails and diamond encrusted pot hole fills
Willothwisp2303 t1_j3xod0p wrote
Diamond would last a lot longer than what they've been putting down every week into the same old potholes.
BJJBean t1_j3xmmma wrote
With all the red tape you have to go through to do government construction work, 4 million dollars will probably pay for 10 feet of road repair.
OldClerk t1_j3x4d8i wrote
I thought they were $40? Genuinely unsure of the correct number.
Ghant_ t1_j3x4il8 wrote
Every camera ticket I've gotten in the city has been 75$. If these ones are 40 I'll correct my math lol
OldClerk t1_j3x7pxr wrote
I thought it was announced as $40, but $75 sounds more realistic. In DC they’re like $100.
LoLude t1_j3xh204 wrote
As someone with 3 fines sitting on my desk, they’re $40
Willothwisp2303 t1_j3xpl6e wrote
Honest questions- did you know about the cameras? Do you not care? Why do you $40 prioritize speeding?
LoLude t1_j3xv34k wrote
Definitely don’t prioritize speeding lol. All accidents, one mph too fast. I do care. I’m not a fan of throwing away money like this. Obviously an expensive lesson.
sxswnxnw t1_j3wz91u wrote
It's much better driving on this roadway now, imo.
Perhaps with some of the money they will add additional cameras.
If the state police want some easy money they should find a place to squat just across the Baltimore City line by the Baltimore sign. Because people take off for 695 at that point. 🤣
engin__r t1_j3x6vsv wrote
Does anyone know why the speed limit going north from downtown is lower than going south into downtown? The roads feel pretty similar to me, but one is set at 40 and the other at 50.
BmoreCityDOT t1_j3xpekh wrote
Checking on this for you!
engin__r t1_j3xr37b wrote
Right, I get that. I was just curious if there was a reason why the speed limit is different northbound vs. southbound between Howard St and Pleasant St.
BmoreCityDOT t1_j3xrcs6 wrote
Oops! Totally replied to the wrong comment. We're checking with the Traffic team on this for you.
engin__r t1_j3xrg4h wrote
No worries! I appreciate all the outreach that you do.
BmoreCityDOT t1_j3xsh7u wrote
Thank you! As soon as we have an answer, we'll get back to you.
z3mcs OP t1_j3x9msx wrote
BmoreCityDOT t1_j3y55oc wrote
Can you tell us more about what sections of road you’re talking about?
Going south, the speed limit is 40mph from Exit 4 to Exit one because of the curvature of the road.
engin__r t1_j3y9k58 wrote
Going south, the last place I see a 50mph sign is just south of the Pleasant St. exit (it should be visible on street view). Going north, the first place I see a 50mph sign is just north of the North Ave. onramp (you might have to spin the street view around).
Maybe I've just missed it, but is it possible the signage on the road is wrong?
(edited to fix southbound link)
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No_Spin_Zone360 t1_j3x69qt wrote
If there's no stats on accidents, injuries, and fatalities, then it's nothing more than a revenue stream.
z3mcs OP t1_j3x9p79 wrote
> Official crash data for the corridor will not be available until summer 2023 when it is submitted to city DOT by the Maryland Highway Safety Office.
BmoreCityDOT t1_j3xb0r7 wrote
This is correct. We're still gathering. The goal is safety, not revenue generation.
temptags t1_j40wb1k wrote
Can you please have all of those damaged attenuators and crash cushions along I-83 replaced? Seems like every single one of them is destroyed and have been for years. They no longer function and are now fixed objects that will increase the severity of a crash if they're struck.
megalomike t1_j3wgdxh wrote
when they first turned on the difference was noticeable. it's still better than it was a year ago but you do see people trying to weave at 80 again. the crash data will be interesting.