Glendale council decides not to bring in red-light cameras
Jul 13, 2018, 1:13 PM | Updated: 1:13 pm
(AP File Photo)
(AP File Photo)
PHOENIX — Council members in Glendale have opted not to bring in red-light cameras after results from a police study, but they plan to keep looking for ways to improve traffic safety in the West Valley city.
Between 2014 and 2016, Glendale had a 72 percent jump in fatal collisions.
The council had been looking over information supplied by the police department since early last year.
Assistant Chief Chris Briggs said a survey of other departments in the state that had red-light cameras found that nine removed them for a variety of reasons, including that there had been no reduction in red-light runner accidents.
In 2007, Glendale conducted a two-year pilot program using red-light cameras at 59th and Peoria avenues.
Only five Valley cities still used red-light cameras — Chandler, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix and Scottsdale.
“That tells me they do not work and I would rather see officers beef up the ‘It’s our town, please slow down’ campaign,” Councilwoman Joyce Clark said at the meeting.
Cameras used in the study at 59th Avenue and Bell Road caught 9,053 drivers running red lights in a single month in 2017.
“We can’t ignore 9,053 red-light violations in a one-month period,” Vice Mayor Lauren Tolmachoff said.
“I don’t believe we can ignore it. It’s a way higher number than I thought it was going to be.”
