More and more drivers are falling into the trap of the red light camera installed at the traffic light in Majori. Nearly 10,000 violations have been recorded in a year, allowing the municipality to collect a substantial amount in fines. However, drivers themselves and traffic safety experts believe that the municipality is deliberately trying to profit by creating conditions under which drivers fall into the trap, reports the Bez Tabu program (TV3).
The red light camera in Majori recorded 9,580 violations last year, which averages to 26 per day, according to the Jurmala City Council. The fine for this violation is 30 euros. Thus, the total amount of fines for the year will exceed 250,000 euros.
In just a few days, a resident of Jurmala, Airita, fell into this trap twice. She believes that the 60 euro fine is unfair and that the camera is used not for ensuring safety but for profit.
"The traffic light switches too quickly; you don’t have time to react and stop in time. When you start to brake, you either cross the stop line or stop on the pedestrian crossing. The traffic light turns red very quickly," she says.
Airita believes that many are made violators not due to their inattention or poor driving, but because of the traffic light's operation. It requires a very quick reaction: the green light does not flash beforehand to warn of the signal change, and the yellow light comes on immediately, lasting only about three seconds before turning red. Given that this is a main road with fairly high-speed traffic, many do not have time to react and stop before the pedestrian crossing.
"Often, without wanting to, you break the rules and pay a fine. It’s legal racketeering! I think everything is done on purpose because they know that a lot of money can be made here. That’s why this camera is installed here," Airita is convinced.
Experts in traffic safety surveyed by Bez Tabu share a similar opinion: according to them, this is not a tool for increasing safety, but rather a trap, as not only incompetent or inattentive drivers fall into it, but also those who consciously run a red light.
Experts also emphasize that out of fear of being fined, drivers often brake sharply, creating dangerous situations that can lead to accidents.
"Before the camera was installed, everything was fine here — cars were moving, pedestrians were crossing. This camera was installed specifically to issue fines. It was done intentionally. The main thing is to rake in the money!" says Maris Ozolins, editor of the iAuto portal.
This is not the first time Bez Tabu has reported on the red light camera in Majori. Recently, the Jurmala City Council announced that changes more friendly to drivers will be made soon.
"The traffic light object at the Majori railway station, on Lienes Street 1 in Jurmala, will be upgraded at the suggestion of the State Joint Stock Company 'Latvijas Valsts ceļi' (Latvian State Roads) to improve its perception and ensure safe crossing of the roadway at the regulated pedestrian crossing. The necessary work is planned to be carried out within the current week," the council stated.
