Big Brother is watching, but he is not helping

They say traffic cameras are for safety.  Somehow they believe that zero-tolerance surveillance coupled with the threat of a fine will relax us and encourage us to perform at our best behind the wheel.  Well, the following actually happened to me about a month ago, and it scared the hell out of me.

I was approaching a familiar, commercial intersection near my house.  Both roads have 40 m.p.h . speed limits.  One has four lanes, the other six.  As I moved into the right-turn bay, I was aware that the traffic signal was red, but the right-turn arrow was green.  I knew the intersection has red-light cameras.  Then it happened.  I fixated on the green arrow to make sure I didn’t blow the red light as I turned.  I focused only on the arrow!  I IGNORED THAT TRAFFIC!

The camera was satisfied that my turn had been legal and I suppose, safe.  I was rattled, knowing that my car had essentially been out-of-control, because I had only the vaguest idea of the traffic situation.  THANKS A LOT BIG BROTHER, AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!