People still drive fast but at the cameras people slam on their brakes suddenly and go below the speed limit

I don't know why you think speed cameras would help or hurt traffic.

People go slower for a couple of miles.

I don't see how it would help traffic. Probably helps deadly accidents, which that stretch of 83 is pretty well known for.

Just curious. I havent had to take 83 during rush hours in a long time.

Traffic in general is way better post pandemic, but still sucks occasionally.

I think so. Speeds are down. I think I’ve been in fewer jams caused by wrecks. Would be nice to have more cameras.

I think it has helped curb the amount of accidents by the pepsi sign, but causes everyone to bunch up even after they all get past the camera.

I just wish we could do something to combat the amount of people camping out in the left lane...ugh.

Definitely feels like it... I drive it every day and haven't had to sit through a single accident related delay since they were installed.

It felt like previously it was a coinflip every time there was a moderate amount of rain.

"traffic" meaning jams - cameras don't really impact that.

"traffic" meaning all the cars on the road at any time - yes its better, people seem to realize driving like human life has no meaning will cost them 55 dollars or whatever.

I have no data on any of this but it feels better and I seem to be seeing less accidents as of late. Logically it makes sense too, if you could go 90mph from exit 10 all the way to the city your average speed is 90mph. BUT, if you have to slow down to 50mph every couple of miles it lowers your average speed while also clumping cars together making it difficult to get back up to extreme speeds.

Data comes out in April from the state transportation board I believe.

I got in the habit of using Waze to get out of my neighborhood and onto 83 every day to commute north from the city for work. Accidents were so common, I needed Waze to let me know if my ramp was closed and I needed to go around. My ramp hasn’t been closed since the cameras were installed.

Maryland would have to have a left lane law first.

Currently, the only law regarding 'left-lane use' we have on the book is that in the left lane of a 3+ lane expressway, you must be going at least within 10mph of the posted speed limit.

So the only 'legal' speeds in the left lane of the JFX are between 30-40mph in the southern part, and 40-50mph for all other portions in the city.

Accidents tend to cause traffic, so I guess in that regard?

I moved to the City right before they got installed on don’t have a basis. But I commute to the County via 83, and haven’t been affected by a traffic accident on it yet.

There have definitely been fewer major accidents that either partially or fully close down 83 since they have been installed. I feel like a couple of years ago, there was a major accident every 2 - 3 days that had 83 shutting down. It seems like these events are less frequent since the camera installations. That's just a personal observation/opinion, though. I would be interested in seeing statistical data on it.

I want to go 80.

Has anyone even gotten a ticket? I’ve never seen one flash, usually see it with the others, both on the street and in my mailbox

A rainy Monday or Friday we're the worst.

Yes

Also just my anecdotal experience, but agreed. Still the occasional and expected idiots slamming on the brakes to drop from 90 to 50 and/or weaving in and out of lanes, but general speeds seem lower than before, and it’s hard to gain speed when cars bunch up near the cameras.

I agree. I’m up and down the 83 a few times a day. the bend after cold spring seemed to have at least an accident a day around there.

Yeah. The positioning of the cameras seems great because like you said, it seemed like 9/10 accidents would be at that Northern Parkway/Coldspring corridor, and people are essentially now forced to go ~55 through there. Even the assholes who want to go 90 generally can't from what I've seen because traffic slows down from everybody else dodging the cameras and they can't pass it.

a friend of mine got a ticket. I've also seen the flash going off a lot

I drive it every day and don't think I've seen any accidents near the Pepsi sign since the cameras went in there, although there have been a few elsewhere.

So I think it has definitely reduced the number of accidents, and in the AM rush traffic often slows to a crawl after Coldspring until just after the cameras. I suppose that's a reasonable tradeoff for not having the road shut down for accident clean-ups.

Definitely agree

We want a lot of things, like regular recycling pickup

You can do something. Petition your state reps to make left land camping a misdemeanor.

Of course, then getting cops to actually ticket people for it would be another battle.

well dang, i probably just jinxed myself then

Ive noticed than I can now do the speed limit in the center lane and not have somebody riding your ass to pass

Or two day trash pick up...

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I think we had some pretty shocking numbers of incidents requiring a police response on the highway a year or two ago. 1200 in the space of a year jumps to mind. I'll be curious to see the follow-up report on that.

Did you see how many tickets they’ve issued so far?

Maybe under this Biden infrastructure plan they can drop the elevated portion and turn it into a in grade boulevard like they were planning.

Yes I’ve had multiple warnings and 2 tickets when it first started. Not lately tho lol

No. where do you find that?

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It was in an article I read last month. 150,000 tickets were issued in the first 90 days they were operational. Now they are averaging 1,318/day.

50% of traffic in the region is non-recurring aka roadworks and crashes. If crashes have been reduced because of cameras it will definitely have helped with traffic jams.

is there a second speed camera on the bridge as you’re going towards 695 & I-83 N? have always wondered. some people seem to slow down and others not

Wow that's crazy but not surprising. I think so many people still have it imprinted in their brains the 83 is actually the minimum speed limit.

…despite the threshold for a ticket being 12 over the posted speed limit.

How would slowing down make traffic better? If anything, it would make it worse. Same number and distance of trips + going slower = more time on the road = more traffic.

It's immensely better.

bro just make less trash, gg ez

I got a couple warnings when they first went in (which I really like that they had that warning period)

Worse, because now everybody slams on their brakes near them.

Yeah but the posted speed is 50 so people still likely routinely do 65-70.

Fewer accidents from what I can tell, but I can't tell you how much I dislike the people that slam on their brakes with the cameras, especially after the flash has already gone off. But hey, at least the cameras aren't triggering for folks doing a touch over 55 mph like the construction ones on 95 have been doing lately...

Now people slam their brakes and slow down to 40 when they come up on one of the 2 cameras. You are good under 62mph.

I’m sorry but I don’t understand how your comment has anything to do with what you’re replying to

I just realized it was posted to the wrong comment. It was meant for this:

>I just wish we could do something to combat the amount of people camping out in the left lane...ugh.

Slower speeds also means higher throughput. It probably sounds counterintuitive, but slower speeds means shorter braking distances thus more cars can occupy the road.

There’s way less accidents which is good but there’s more congestion and it’s a little slower for sure

This is why speed cameras increase the danger. Ever notice there has never been a single study released showing safety improved after a speed camera has been placed?

Inconsistent traffic flow is the primary culprit in most backed-up slowdowns. I would like to ask everyone traveling south in the morning to be prepared on bright, sunny mornings. Put those sunglasses on or flip your visor down. Also, maintain your speed on the uphill sections.

Please.