In a London test corridor, for instance, deaths fell from68 to 20, and serious injuries were down over 25% after speed cameras weredeployed. On a Portland, Oregon street, 88% of vehicles traveled 11mphor more over the speed limit before speed camera installation. Afterward,only 12% of vehicles traveled 11mph or more over the limit.

Speed cameras consist of a stationary camera and a Dopplerradar unit. A vehicle in the radar beam that exceeds a pre-set speed thresholdtriggers the camera, which record's the car's license plate. A summonsis then issued to the vehicle owner.

New York City needs state legislation in order to deploythis technology. The NY Post reported last week that Mayor Giulianiwill ask the Legislature for the OK to begin a photo-radar program."[The city's red light camera] program has years worth of experience, andwe feel it's worked pretty well," Anthony Piscitelli, NYC's Albany lobbyist,told the Post. "We think [speed cameras] is an idea worth pursuing."The city also wants the state's go-ahead to double the number of red-lightcameras it is allowed to deploy, from 50 to 100. The NYC DOT says thatthe city's red light cameras resulted in issuance of 400,000 tickets tored light runners last year. Anyone spending any time in New York Cityknows that red light running and speeding are epidemic. A Tri-State Campaignhalf-hour survey at 7^th Avenue and 36^th Street inManhattan last year noted 19 cars and truck running lights. Motorists inother boroughs treat stop signs as a joke.

The NY chapter of the AAA is demanding that studiesbe done before the city uses photo-radar, even though a recent surveyof its members found that 80% supported automated traffic law enforcement.NY State Assembly Transportation Committee Chair David Gannt's office toldthe Post it took a "dim view" toward automated enforcement and insultinglytold New York City to "hire more police." Gannt represents Rochester.