Christie Administration
announces
that no new intersections
will be
added to the red light
camera pilot program
With pilot expiration
as early as December 2014,
opportunity
to gather long-term
data from new locations has passed
(Trenton) - The
New Jersey Department of Transportation
today announced that no new locations
will be added to the list of authorized
red light camera intersections
because there would not be sufficient
time to gather useful data under
the pilot program that is scheduled
to end as early as December, 2014.
The Department will continue to
gather and analyze data from the
roster of 76
authorized and operational red-light
camera intersections throughout
the state.
In order for information gathered
from cameras to be statistically
significant, a minimum of two years
of data is necessary. Since the
study could end as early as 20
months from now, adding new cameras
at this point will not be useful
in assisting in the determination
of their overall worth.
NJDOT safety engineers have determined
that the current level of participation
will provide the Department with
sufficient data to make an informed
and responsible recommendation
on the effectiveness of red light
cameras in New Jersey.
While many municipalities have
expressed interest in participating
in the program and have submitted
applications concerning specific
intersections, none of these applications
will be considered for inclusion
in the program.
The red light camera pilot program,
authorized by an act
of the Legislature in 2008 with
implementation beginning in 2009,
aims to determine whether red light
cameras promote safety by reducing
the frequency and severity of crashes
at intersections that have a history
of motorists running red lights.
The first cameras were activated
in December 2009.
The law requires NJDOT to annually
provide to the Legislature a report
containing crash statistics and
trends for all intersections in
the state where a red light camera
has been operating for at least
one full year. The second-year
report was issued
in November 2012.
NJDOT administers the pilot program
but has no role in the selection
of camera equipment vendors, the
contracts among vendors and municipalities
or the issuance of violation notices.
|