Crashes at red lights in Wilmington decrease, according to report

Traffic accidents due to red light violations have decreased in Wilmington, according to a city report that monitors these incidents and makes recommendations for preventing crashes.

The city of Wilmington released its second Traffic Light Signal Violation System Program Report for Fiscal Year 2015 on Thursday.

According to the report, there were 143 crashes during this period, compared the previous year’s 200—a 28.5 percent decline. Citations also decreased to 36,718 from the previous year’s 41,926—a 12.4 percent decline.

The city’s police and finance departments produce the report with the goal of reducing crashes, aiding in the redeployment of police officers to better serve residents and avoiding the costs associated with red-light running traffic crashes.

The city says it believes the 34 cameras at 31 signalized intersections help reduce the number of accidents at red lights.

The most improved intersections in fiscal year 2015 included 11th Street eastbound at N. Church Street from nine to three, Lancaster Avenue eastbound at Jackson Street from 10 to four and Pennsylvania Avenue westbound at N. Lincoln Street from seven to one.

The greatest increase in the number of crashes at an intersection was 4th Street westbound at N. Adams Street, which rose from one accident to seven.

The most accidents at a red light intersection in two years were at S. Walnut Street northbound at A Street and W. 2nd Street westbound at N. Adams Street with 12 and 10 respectively in the recent report.

Having cameras in both directions seemed to help reduce numbers at Lancaster and Cleveland, but at least three other intersections with cameras in both directions saw increases in crashes.

Read more on 2014’s report here .