N.J. voters favor cameras at intersections

A new poll finds there is plenty of public support in New Jersey for the use of cameras at intersections.

More than 75 percent of Garden State voters surveyed say they’re in favor of having the cameras at busy intersection to monitor drivers who run red lights.

David Kelly, president of the National Coalition for Safer Roads, said the poll shows a majority of voters believe cameras at red lights make roads safer.

“Fifty-six percent of the people tell us that when they know there’s a camera at a particular intersection, that is changing their driving behavior, and that’s all we want,” said Kelly. “We want people to stop running red lights. We want people to stop killing innocent folks who are just trying to cross the street.”

There are 17 municipalities in New Jersey now using the cameras in a five-year pilot program that will end in 2014.

Brick Township Police Chief Nils Bergquist said there has been a modest reduction in accidents at the two intersections in the town with the cameras. Meanwhile Glassboro Police Chief Alex Fanfarillo said crashes are down more than 80 percent at the one intersection in his town where the cameras are installed.

The state Transportation Department has not yet released statewide data on the effectiveness of the program.