After red-light cameras are installed, accidents nearly double at one N.J. intersection

The goal of New Jersey’s red-light camera program is to increase safety at hazardous intersections. That’s hasn’t happened at one location.

Lawrence Township manager Richard Krawczun says there have been almost twice as many accidents at the intersection of Route 1 and Bakers Basin Road since the red-light cameras were installed.

“I think the solution is quite simple. There are two options,” he said. “Either the safety at the intersection is improved or we need to terminate the program.”

New Jersey Department of Transportation spokesman Tim Greeley says it’s not unusual for rear-end collisions to increase in the first few months after a red-light camera is put up until drivers get used to them.

“It is because of that hyper-focus. Drivers aware of where these cameras are stop short traditionally trying to avoid that ticket,” Greeley said.

This is only the second year of a five-year red-light camera pilot program in 25 New Jersey communities, and Greeley says data is still being gathered to gauge its effectiveness.