Data Shows Crashes Reduced at Red-Light Camera Intersections

Red-light cameras in Newark have helped reduce the amount of rear-end and right-angle crashes at 10 city intersections, according to data released Wednesday.

Right-angle crashes are down 43 percent and rear-end crashes are down 25 percent at the 10 intersections that have had red-light cameras for two years. The data also shows that the most dangerous right-angle crashes, caused by red-light running, dropped by 100 percent at several major intersections in Newark. (See list below.)

"The data clearly shows that Newark has successfully used traffic safety cameras to reduce crashes and has a huge impact on driver behavior in the state," said Traffic Safety Coalition Co-Chair Paul Oberhauser whose daughter was tragically killed by a red-light runner in 2002, in a statement. "Newark’s traffic safety camera program is working."

In 2009, New Jersey's largest city became the first to implement an intersection safety camera program and recently expanded it to 19 of the most dangerous intersections across the city.

In July, New Jersey Department of TransportationThe DOT had previously suspended the municipalities from issuing red-light camera violations after questions arose over the duration of yellow-light signals.

Reductions in right angle crashes:

• Broad Street and Raymond Boulevard –100 percent reduction in right angle crashes
• Broad Street and Murray Street –100 percent reduction in right angle crashes
• McCarter Highway and Lafayette Street –100 percent reduction in right angle crashes
• McCarter Highway and South Street - 66 percent reduction in right angle crashes
• McCarter Highway and Market Street - 60 percent reduction in right angle crashes
• Broad Street and Market Street – No reduction in right angle crashes (1 pre-camera, 1 post camera)
• McCarter Highway and Edison Place - No reduction in right angle crashes (zero pre-camera, zero post camera)
• Mulberry Street and Market Street  - No reduction in right angle crashes (zero pre-camera, zero post camera)
• Raymond Boulevard and Raymond Plaza West – No reduction in right angle crashes (zero pre-camera, zero post camera)
• Raymond Boulevard and Prospect Street – No reduction in right angle crashes (1 pre-camera, 1 post camera)

Reductions in rear-end crashes:

• Broad Street and Murray Street – 50 percent increase in rear-end crashes
• McCarter Highway and Lafayette Street – 40 percent reduction in rear end crashes
• McCarter Highway and South Street - 28 percent reduction in rear-end crashes
• Raymond Boulevard and Raymond Plaza West – 25 percent reduction in rear-end crashes
• Broad Street and Raymond Boulevard – 20 percent reduction in rear-end crashes
• Raymond Boulevard and Prospect Street – 16 percent reduction in rear-end crashes
• Mulberry Street and Market Street - No reduction in rear-end crashes (zero pre-camera, zero post camera)
• McCarter Highway and Edison Place - 100 percent reduction in rear-end crashes
• McCarter Highway and Market Street - 72 percent reduction in rear-end crashes
• Broad Street and Market Street – 50 percent reduction in rear-end crashes