Latest news with #BeaconHillMiddleSchool
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Goa unveils tech-driven Road Safety Policy for 2025
Traffic passes an automated speed camera outside Beacon Hill Middle School in Decatur, Ga., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy) Panaji: State govt has unveiled a technology-led Road Safety Policy, 2025, to overhaul every facet of Goa's transport and road safety framework — by harnessing AI-powered surveillance and data-driven engineering reforms among other tools. According to the policy, an AI-Based Traffic Management System will detect and document traffic violations such as speeding, helmetless riding, seatbelt non-compliance, and jumping red lights. The system will also identify end-of-life vehicles, expired insurance policies, and stolen vehicles. The system will be created on the public-private partnership model to enable real-time implementation by integrating traffic information with law enforcement data. To tighten control over driver licensing and vehicle fitness rules, the policy mandates the establishment of at least one automated testing station in every district, and at least one Institute of Driving Training and Research or Regional Driving Training Centre in the state. These centres will be set up under the public-private partnership model. Goa will fully sync the Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) with the e-Detailed Accident Report system. These platforms allow the collection and cross-analysis of crash data from police, transport, highway, and health departments. Training and sensitisation programmes will be conducted across departments, particularly for high-risk zones and black spots. Based on the data from iRAD and traffic police reports, accident hotspots will be targeted for redesigns, including speed-curbing measures, improved lighting, pedestrian walkways, and better signage. A dedicated 'lead agency for road safety' will bring under one umbrella all the major stakeholders, including traffic police, the transport department, the PWD, and the health department. District and state road safety councils will convene regular reviews to track the implementation, plug enforcement gaps, and make data-backed course corrections. Strict enforcement is set to become the norm, with 100% saturation set for high-security registration plates, vehicle location tracking devices, and speed governors on all transport vehicles. Non-compliance will result in licence suspension, insurance issues, and potential criminal liability. All fitness renewals will be tethered to these safety parameters. Recognising that infrastructure alone cannot end road fatalities, the policy includes mass awareness and behavioural training campaigns. The TRUST (Traffic Rules Understanding and Safety Training) programme will be scaled up to re-train drivers with suspended licences. Road safety education will also be taken to schools, colleges, and workplaces, evoking a culture of compliance rather than mere legal obligation. An analysis of accidents in 2024 by the traffic cell of Goa police has revealed that straight roads account for over 81% of the accidents in the state. Around 73% of the persons who died in road accidents were two-wheeler riders. A total of 207 motorcyclists lost their lives in road accidents that year. A senior police officer said that 97.5% of the accidents occurred due to rash and negligent driving, and 34.4% occurred on national highways.
Arab Times
05-03-2025
- Automotive
- Arab Times
Georgia lawmakers push to ban automated speed cameras near schools
DECATUR, Ga, March 5, (AP): Outside Beacon Hill Middle School in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, like along hundreds of roadsides across Georgia, the unblinking eye of a camera tickets drivers who speed through a school zone. Supporters say cameras slow down drivers and provide constant enforcement that understaffed police departments can't equal. But some state lawmakers want to ban them, saying the cameras are more about generating money for local governments and camera companies, and that some use them deceptively. More than 20 states and the District of Columbia allow automated traffic cameras to issue speeding tickets, but more than 10 other states have outlawed them. However, it would be unusual for a state to reverse its position. New Jersey had a pilot program testing cameras to enforce red lights, but pulled the plug in 2014. Georgia's fight will come to a head soon in its General Assembly, with three separate bills advancing out of committees. The state first authorized speed cameras, but only in school zones, in 2018. More than 100 representatives in Georgia's 180-member House signed on to House Bill 225, which would ban the cameras. Dale Washburn, the Macon Republican sponsoring that measure, provided a stack of emails from outraged people ticketed statewide who said lights weren't flashing, they didn't even know they were in a school zone, or the cameras were otherwise unfair. While the tickets in Georgia are civil citations and don't go on a driver's criminal record, the state does block people who don't pay from renewing their vehicle registration. Almost 125,000 unpaid violations were reported in 2024, the Georgia Department of Revenue said. The cameras generated more than $112 million in revenue in 54 Georgia cities and counties since 2019, WANF-TV found last year. Camera companies typically take a share of the revenue. "These camera companies are engaged in deceit and trickery,' Washburn said. "Their goal is to write tickets, not to enhance children's safety." One issue with abolishing cameras is that companies have become big political donors. Two big vendors, United Kingdom-based RedSpeed and Tennessee-based Blue Line Solutions, contributed around $500,000 to Georgia campaigns in recent years, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan watchdog that tracks money in politics.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia lawmakers push to ban automated speed cameras near schools
DECATUR, Ga. (AP) — Outside Beacon Hill Middle School in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, like along hundreds of roadsides across Georgia, the unblinking eye of a camera tickets drivers who speed through a school zone. Supporters say cameras slow down drivers and provide constant enforcement that understaffed police departments can't equal. But some state lawmakers want to ban them, saying the cameras are more about generating money for local governments and camera companies, and that some use them deceptively. More than 20 states and the District of Columbia allow automated traffic cameras to issue speeding tickets, but more than 10 other states have outlawed them. However, it would be unusual for a state to reverse its position. New Jersey had a pilot program testing cameras to enforce red lights, but pulled the plug in 2014. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Georgia's fight will come to a head soon in its General Assembly, with three separate bills advancing out of committees. The state first authorized speed cameras, but only in school zones, in 2018. Opponents say cameras are about money not safety More than 100 representatives in Georgia's 180-member House signed on to House Bill 225, which would ban the cameras. Dale Washburn, the Macon Republican sponsoring that measure, provided a stack of emails from outraged people ticketed statewide who said lights weren't flashing, they didn't even know they were in a school zone, or the cameras were otherwise unfair. While the tickets in Georgia are civil citations and don't go on a driver's criminal record, the state does block people who don't pay from renewing their vehicle registration. Almost 125,000 unpaid violations were reported in 2024, the Georgia Department of Revenue said. The cameras generated more than $112 million in revenue in 54 Georgia cities and counties since 2019, WANF-TV found last year. Camera companies typically take a share of the revenue. 'These camera companies are engaged in deceit and trickery,' Washburn said. 'Their goal is to write tickets, not to enhance children's safety." One issue with abolishing cameras is that companies have become big political donors. Two big vendors, United Kingdom-based RedSpeed and Tennessee-based Blue Line Solutions, contributed around $500,000 to Georgia campaigns in recent years, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan watchdog that tracks money in politics. Others want to reform camera use, not end it Legislative leaders seem more likely to support two other bills that would keep cameras, but more closely regulate them by providing better warning signs and limiting the hours of usage. 'So the objective is to alert drivers that they're entering a school zone and get them to slow down and then for them not to be cited unless they are speeding in a school zone during designated hours,' said Republican Sen. Max Burns of Sylvania, who is sponsoring Senate Bill 75. An alternate House bill that is similar to Burns' would require half the money raised go to school safety. In Decatur, students surge out of Beacon Hill Middle at dismissal and walk along College Avenue, a two-lane street that's also a state highway. Unlike most places in Georgia, where most students travel home in buses or their parents' cars, a majority of Decatur's 5,300 students either walk or ride bikes home. Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett said a student at Beacon Hill was struck in a hit-and-run accident and a crossing guard elsewhere was also hit before Decatur activated its cameras last fall. 'We really want to protect our most vulnerable residents, our students, and particularly when they are on foot or on a bicycle," Garrett said. Violations drop but many drivers still speed Police Chief Scott Richards said according to a speed study conducted by the company, speeding has fallen 92%. But there are still plenty of drivers flying through the five zones where Decatur is using cameras. They issued 4,500 valid citations in January alone, he said. 'We would not be able to get those reductions if it were not for the photo enforcement in school zones,' Richards said. Decatur officials tout their efforts as a model, saying the city has abundant signage and only operates the cameras for a 30 minutes before and after schools begin in the morning and dismiss in the afternoon. A vehicle must be traveling 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) per hour over the speed limit to be cited. Still, Washburn and others say the amount of money involved encourages overuse and bad behavior. 'Profit-based law enforcement cannot be trusted,' John Moore of Milledgeville wrote to Washburn in February. 'I hope you can convince your colleagues to vote this menace out of our state for good."
The Independent
04-03-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Georgia lawmakers push to ban automated speed cameras near schools
Outside Beacon Hill Middle School in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, like along hundreds of roadsides across Georgia, the unblinking eye of a camera tickets drivers who speed through a school zone. Supporters say cameras slow down drivers and provide constant enforcement that understaffed police departments can't equal. But some state lawmakers want to ban them, saying the cameras are more about generating money for local governments and camera companies, and that some use them deceptively. More than 20 states and the District of Columbia allow automated traffic cameras to issue speeding tickets, but more than 10 other states have outlawed them. However, it would be unusual for a state to reverse its position. New Jersey had a pilot program testing cameras to enforce red lights, but pulled the plug in 2014. Georgia's fight will come to a head soon in its General Assembly, with three separate bills advancing out of committees. The state first authorized speed cameras, but only in school zones, in 2018. Opponents say cameras are about money not safety More than 100 representatives in Georgia's 180-member House signed on to House Bill 225, which would ban the cameras. Dale Washburn, the Macon Republican sponsoring that measure, provided a stack of emails from outraged people ticketed statewide who said lights weren't flashing, they didn't even know they were in a school zone, or the cameras were otherwise unfair. While the tickets in Georgia are civil citations and don't go on a driver's criminal record, the state does block people who don't pay from renewing their vehicle registration. Almost 125,000 unpaid violations were reported in 2024, the Georgia Department of Revenue said. The cameras generated more than $112 million in revenue in 54 Georgia cities and counties since 2019, WANF-TV found last year. Camera companies typically take a share of the revenue. 'These camera companies are engaged in deceit and trickery,' Washburn said. 'Their goal is to write tickets, not to enhance children's safety." One issue with abolishing cameras is that companies have become big political donors. Two big vendors, United Kingdom-based RedSpeed and Tennessee-based Blue Line Solutions, contributed around $500,000 to Georgia campaigns in recent years, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan watchdog that tracks money in politics. Others want to reform camera use, not end it Legislative leaders seem more likely to support two other bills that would keep cameras, but more closely regulate them by providing better warning signs and limiting the hours of usage. 'So the objective is to alert drivers that they're entering a school zone and get them to slow down and then for them not to be cited unless they are speeding in a school zone during designated hours,' said Republican Sen. Max Burns of Sylvania, who is sponsoring Senate Bill 75. An alternate House bill that is similar to Burns' would require half the money raised go to school safety. In Decatur, students surge out of Beacon Hill Middle at dismissal and walk along College Avenue, a two-lane street that's also a state highway. Unlike most places in Georgia, where most students travel home in buses or their parents' cars, a majority of Decatur's 5,300 students either walk or ride bikes home. Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett said a student at Beacon Hill was struck in a hit-and-run accident and a crossing guard elsewhere was also hit before Decatur activated its cameras last fall. 'We really want to protect our most vulnerable residents, our students, and particularly when they are on foot or on a bicycle," Garrett said. Violations drop but many drivers still speed Police Chief Scott Richards said according to a speed study conducted by the company, speeding has fallen 92%. But there are still plenty of drivers flying through the five zones where Decatur is using cameras. They issued 4,500 valid citations in January alone, he said. 'We would not be able to get those reductions if it were not for the photo enforcement in school zones,' Richards said. Decatur officials tout their efforts as a model, saying the city has abundant signage and only operates the cameras for a 30 minutes before and after schools begin in the morning and dismiss in the afternoon. A vehicle must be traveling 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) per hour over the speed limit to be cited. Still, Washburn and others say the amount of money involved encourages overuse and bad behavior. 'Profit-based law enforcement cannot be trusted,' John Moore of Milledgeville wrote to Washburn in February. 'I hope you can convince your colleagues to vote this menace out of our state for good."
Associated Press
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Georgia lawmakers push to ban automated speed cameras near schools
DECATUR, Ga. (AP) — Outside Beacon Hill Middle School in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, like along hundreds of roadsides across Georgia, the unblinking eye of a camera tickets drivers who speed through a school zone. Supporters say cameras slow down drivers and provide constant enforcement that understaffed police departments can't equal. But some state lawmakers want to ban them, saying the cameras are more about generating money for local governments and camera companies, and that some use them deceptively. More than 20 states and the District of Columbia allow automated traffic cameras to issue speeding tickets, but more than 10 other states have outlawed them. However, it would be unusual for a state to reverse its position. New Jersey had a pilot program testing cameras to enforce red lights, but pulled the plug in 2014. Georgia's fight will come to a head soon in its General Assembly, with three separate bills advancing out of committees. The state first authorized speed cameras, but only in school zones, in 2018. Opponents say cameras are about money not safety More than 100 representatives in Georgia's 180-member House signed on to House Bill 225, which would ban the cameras. Dale Washburn, the Macon Republican sponsoring that measure, provided a stack of emails from outraged people ticketed statewide who said lights weren't flashing, they didn't even know they were in a school zone, or the cameras were otherwise unfair. While the tickets in Georgia are civil citations and don't go on a driver's criminal record, the state does block people who don't pay from renewing their vehicle registration. Almost 125,000 unpaid violations were reported in 2024, the Georgia Department of Revenue said. The cameras generated more than $112 million in revenue in 54 Georgia cities and counties since 2019, WANF-TV found last year. Camera companies typically take a share of the revenue. 'These camera companies are engaged in deceit and trickery,' Washburn said. 'Their goal is to write tickets, not to enhance children's safety.' One issue with abolishing cameras is that companies have become big political donors. Two big vendors, United Kingdom-based RedSpeed and Tennessee-based Blue Line Solutions, contributed around $500,000 to Georgia campaigns in recent years, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan watchdog that tracks money in politics. Others want to reform camera use, not end it Legislative leaders seem more likely to support two other bills that would keep cameras, but more closely regulate them by providing better warning signs and limiting the hours of usage. 'So the objective is to alert drivers that they're entering a school zone and get them to slow down and then for them not to be cited unless they are speeding in a school zone during designated hours,' said Republican Sen. Max Burns of Sylvania, who is sponsoring Senate Bill 75. An alternate House bill that is similar to Burns' would require half the money raised go to school safety. In Decatur, students surge out of Beacon Hill Middle at dismissal and walk along College Avenue, a two-lane street that's also a state highway. Unlike most places in Georgia, where most students travel home in buses or their parents' cars, a majority of Decatur's 5,300 students either walk or ride bikes home. Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett said a student at Beacon Hill was struck in a hit-and-run accident and a crossing guard elsewhere was also hit before Decatur activated its cameras last fall. 'We really want to protect our most vulnerable residents, our students, and particularly when they are on foot or on a bicycle,' Garrett said. Violations drop but many drivers still speed Police Chief Scott Richards said according to a speed study conducted by the company, speeding has fallen 92%. But there are still plenty of drivers flying through the five zones where Decatur is using cameras. They issued 4,500 valid citations in January alone, he said. 'We would not be able to get those reductions if it were not for the photo enforcement in school zones,' Richards said. Decatur officials tout their efforts as a model, saying the city has abundant signage and only operates the cameras for a 30 minutes before and after schools begin in the morning and dismiss in the afternoon. A vehicle must be traveling 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) per hour over the speed limit to be cited. Still, Washburn and others say the amount of money involved encourages overuse and bad behavior.
