Letter to Editor: Red Light Runners

My letter to the editor below appeared in the Monday, September 21, 2009 issue of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News (dnews.com).
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On January 30 I witnessed an accident at Washington Street and
3rd Street in Moscow. I was standing at the northwest corner. I
noticed the walk sign go on for pedestrians crossing Washington.
Therefore the stoplight was red for Washington traffic. Then I saw a
vehicle northbound on Washington run the red light and bang into a car
westbound on 3rd that had started across the intersection. The
collision damaged its front end.

Since then I have observed that running red lights is a common
occurrence in Moscow. I don't mean when a vehicle doesn't make it
through an intersection on the yellow--though not stopping for a
yellow light when there is time to do so safely is irresponsible--nor
mean when a yellow light is timed to go on and off too fast for anyone
to react. I mean cases when the yellow gives ample time to stop and a
driver enters and crosses an intersection after the light is red with
no attempt or intention to stop. I see this happen once or twice a
week or more.

I've heard that earlier this month (September 2009) someone in
Moscow didn't stop his or her vehicle for a red light and struck a man
on a bicycle, breaking many of his bones.

What to do to catch and fine the red light runners, to discourage
such irresponsible and life-threatening driving? Obviously Moscow
can't afford to put a cop at every stoplight intersection 24/7. I
don't like the thought of being watched by Big Brother, but what else
might be done but install computerized cameras at Moscow's stoplight
intersections, as Los Angeles has done?

Brian Leekley
Moscow, Idaho

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Later that day I submitted this correction, which the paper printed soon after:

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I recently submitted a letter to the editor concerning Moscow drivers
who run red lights. In it I included that I had heard that not long
ago a motorist in Moscow ran a red light and struck a bicyclist,
causing broken bones. I have since been told that what I heard was
wrong and that in fact that particular accident did not at all involve
anyone's running a red light. I apologize to all concerned, to you,
and to your readers that I neglected to double-check whether what I
had heard was fact or false rumor before repeating it.

The examples of red light running that I gave which were based on
personal observations and the main points of my letter remain valid.
These points were that drivers running red lights is not uncommon in
Moscow (and I expect elsewhere), that this is irresponsible and
life-threatening behavior, and that Moscow's residents, law makers,
and law enforcers ought to consider how such behavior might
cost-effectively be discouraged.

Brian Leekley
Moscow, ID

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An editor at the paper arbitrarily and without consulting me changed the wording of the first sentence of the second paragraph. I corrected this in a comment to the online version of the paper. I don't have a copy of the misrepresentation or the correction. The text of the letter above is as I submitted it.