Oak Ridge Today

Letter: Someone has to set limits, even for public figures

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To the Editor:

What worries me about the Oak Ridge City Council’s recent decision to allow Joseph Lee to continue on the building and zoning appeals board without any sort of reprimand or censure is that the Council in effect is condoning behavior which is not worthy of someone in public service and is actually abusive in nature.

Mr. Lee’s hurtful and contemptuous language in expressing his disappointment that the Council did not renew the red light camera contract the city had was uncalled for and shows a lack of understanding of the limits of adult behavior. His behavior was more like that of a school yard bully.

Anyone can use the tactics of a bully, but if they cannot police themselves, then others need to do it for them. [Read more…]

Crashes, vehicle speeds down near red-light cameras, reports say

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Red-light Camera at Oak Ridge Turnpike and New York Avenue

The largest crash reduction near red-light cameras occurred near the system at Oak Ridge Turnpike and New York Avenue/Lafayette Drive.

There has been an overall decrease in the number of car crashes near red-light camera systems installed at four locations in Oak Ridge five years ago, and vehicle speeds have dropped near two schools, officials said.

Council members had requested information about crash frequency and history as the controversial five-year red-light camera contract, approved in August 2008, comes up for renewal in April. The crash information, as well as data on vehicle speeds, is included in the agenda packet for a Monday night Oak Ridge City Council work session.

The information said the largest crash reduction occurred at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Lafayette Drive/New York Avenue. Accidents there fell from 86 to 58, or roughly 33 percent, and injuries fell from 25 to 13, about a 50 percent reduction.

The totals compared the number of crashes from one four-year period starting March 2005 and ending March 2009, and a second period starting April 2009 and ending in November 2013, or a little more than four years. [Read more…]