New Jersey Department of Transportation Report Touts Red-Light Camera Benefits Recommends Continuation of Pilot Program
Trenton, NJ – Red-light safety cameras turned in another year of positive results at intersections in New Jersey, and trends show “driver behavior is being modified,” according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT) third annual analysis of the photo enforcement program. According to the report, “Further sustained analysis is needed and the Department recommends that the Traffic Control Signal Monitoring Systems Pilot Program continue.”
Red-light safety cameras turned in another year of positive results at intersections in New Jersey, and trends show “driver behavior is being modified,” according to the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT) third annual analysis of the photo enforcement program. According to the report, “Further sustained analysis is needed and the Department recommends that the Traffic Control Signal Monitoring Systems Pilot Program continue.” http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/publicat/lmreports/pdf/2013finalrlrreport.pdf
Among its key findings, the report found total crashes at the 22 intersections with red-light safety cameras in place for two years decreased 27%. Other important results include:
- Right-angle crashes diminished by 60%.
- Rear-end crashes decreased by 7%.
- The number of citations issued fell by 61%, indicating that the enforcement program is capturing drivers’ attention and changing their behavior to stop on red.
- Estimated crash severity costs decreased more than $780,000.
Total crashes at the 23 intersections with red-light safety cameras in place for one year decreased 5%, right angle crashes decreased 15% and rear-end collisions fell 3%. Citations are down 31% and estimated crash severity costs have decreased by more than $2.1 million.
“These first-year statistics are markedly different from the 2012 Annual Report, suggest that the driver-behavior learning curve may have become stronger with continued program operation,” the report states.
Red-light running is a significant factor in city collisions and typically results in dangerous broadside collisions. These crashes are more likely than any other type of traffic crash to cause injury or death. Even more unsettling is this: more than half of the people killed in red-light running crashes are innocent people driving, biking or walking across the intersection on the green light.
“Just as New Jersey’s first and second annual reports on red-light safety cameras found, this latest analysis shows red-light safety cameras are enhancing safety in New Jersey,” said Adam Tuton, President, American Traffic Solutions (ATS) State and Local Government Solutions. “The data proves that the longer the programs are in existence, the better the public safety results.”
Statewide, support remains high for red-light safety cameras, according to a new poll by AAA that found 56% of 1,000 polled motorists favor red-light cameras to catch red-light runners.
Recently, ATS released a video that provides a full explanation of the red-light camera program in New Jersey, and explains all the details involved in the program beginning with the process a township undergoes to install a camera. This video is available for viewing at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sUzzc-4Zuo
About American Traffic Solutions:
ATS is proud to be the market leader in road safety camera installations in North America, and in New Jersey, where ATS contracts with Deptford, East Brunswick and 15 other cities and townships. Nationally, ATS has more than 3,200 installed red-light and speed safety cameras serving more than 30 million people. ATS has contracts with more than 275 communities in 21 states and Washington, D.C.