Despite growing backlash against Flock Safety’s automated license plate readers, some local governments that have voted to remove them have faced issues getting the cameras deactivated and taken down. Now, there could be another reason for communities to want them gone. The Guardian reports that road-safety advocates are warning that some Flock camera installations may pose a safety risk to drivers. The report highlighted a camera installed beside a narrow, two-lane rural road in Greene County, Ohio. The camera sits atop a black metal pole about two feet from the edge of the pavement, making it difficult to see at night. It also had no obvious sticker showing that it had been inspected by safety authorities. The Guardian pointed out that according to Ohio Department of Transportation guidance, license plate readers installed along roads without curbs should be at least eight feet from the road.
The pole also lacks a breakaway plate, a safety feature designed to allow a roadside pole to snap when struck by a vehicle, reducing the force of the impact. Steve Eimers, known online as the Guardrail Guy, has recently been documenting Flock camera installations that he says fail to meet roadside-safety standards.
