A few years ago, a child was struck by a motorist while crossing the turnpike from Oak Ridge High School. Last year, I monitored that area and observed numerous motorist violations that put students and adults in danger. Frequently, vehicles would come within inches of hitting students.
During my 2 month stint in 2007 as a volunteer crossing guard at the Illinois Ave./Roberstville Rd. intersection, I encountered speeders and red light runners every morning. For the hour I stood at that corner, it was not uncommon to see as many as 15 vehicles run red lights and hundreds more speeding well over 45mph.
The city rightly concluded that both of these areas posed serious dangers to students and they responded accordingly. First, they designated the areas as school zones and implemented a 20mph speed limit. Overall, motorist behavior did not change. The city then installed more signage and flashing lights. Those were largely ignored. They hired crossing guards. Negligent motorists turned the situation into a real-life game of Frogger. When police presence was ramped up, drivers slowed down temporarily, only to regress back into reckless behavior when the authorities departed. Then speed and red light cameras were installed, and voila! Driver behavior changed and people finally got the message and slowed down.
Given all of this, I find it pathetic that a select few adults (who whine worse than my three year old) continue to expend a tremendous amount of energy fighting to protect law-breakers instead of our children. I for one applaud the city’s continued efforts to improve the safety of our students, pedestrians, and overall citizenry. We’ve come a long way in the last few years and, thus far, the results of these cameras unequivocally prove their necessity and value. Driving is not a right; it is a privilege. If you insist on breaking the law (or defending those who do), then you get what you deserve. Don’t do the crime if you can’t pay the fine.
Trina Baughn 
I was traveling the speed limit on Turnpike and just as I entered the intersection the light turned yellow and then immediately red. The light flashed because of me or the driver in the other lane. The yellow light stayed yellow maybe two seconds before the red and immediate flash. I don’t know if the flash was from being in the intersection when the light was red or from speeding. I did step on the gas to get through the intersection but didn’t go over one mile per hour over the limit. Don’t tell me that the lights aren’t set up to extract revenue. I am a law abiding citizen, a current military member, and a tax payer. I pay extremely high property taxes. I am dissatisfied with the quality of life in Oak Ridge with all the vacant houses and drug dealers. It feels like I live in the former Soviet Union. If you want the children to be safe, build the schools in a different location that the busiest streets in Oak Ridge.