I’ve been following the debate over Flock cameras with interest. Cameras to catch bad drivers have been used in the U.K., where I grew up, for more than 30 years. I’m accustomed to cameras as a tool to catch lawbreakers, and I’m not too worried about my privacy when I’m behind the wheel, but I can understand why people find the idea creepy and invasive.

Twenty-two people died in traffic accidents in Eugene in 2024, including 10 pedestrians and one cyclist. Many other cyclists were injured, some severely. As a regular cyclist/pedestrian I experience firsthand the danger that reckless drivers cause. There are far fewer cyclists and pedestrians than drivers, yet we made up 50 percent of traffic fatalities last year.

Red lights are routinely ignored. Drivers speed down neighborhood streets, despite a 20 mph speed limit. Don’t get me started on drivers who turn right across a pedestrian crosswalk on a red light without looking to see if a bike or walker is crossing. These are not things that happen once in a while; they are daily occurrences. 

The era of traffic cops at intersections is long past, so how else can we address the increasingly unsafe conditions for cyclists and pedestrians if not with traffic cameras? I’d love to hear ideas. 

Julie Daniel
Eugene