The Park Ridge city council is trying to figure out where they want to install the town’s first red light camera.
According to Pioneer Press looks like it might be on Northwest Highway.
I guess we’ll find out soon enough.
Red light camera may move to NW Highway
By Jennifer Johnson
The question of whether to equip a Park Ridge intersection with the city’s very first red light enforcement camera is headed to the City Council on Nov. 17.
The proposal, as supported by the council’s Public Safety Committee Nov. 6, calls for the city to enter into a contract with RedSpeed Illinois for the installation of a camera facing westbound on Oakton Street at Northwest Highway.
For several months, the committee discussed the placement of a red light camera on westbound Oakton at Dee Road, as recommended by RedSpeed, but Acting Police Chief Tom Swoboda said it was recently learned that the Illinois Department of transportation (IDOT) will not allow cameras at intersections that are connected to railroad crossing signals.
As a result, RedSpeed was asked to conduct a study of Oakton and Northwest Highway to determine if that intersection warrants red light cameras. The 12-hour observation of the intersection noted 37 red light violations on westbound Oakton, Swoboda said. Seven of the violations were left turns made on a red light, and 30 involved drivers making right turns on red without coming a complete stop, he explained.
A similar study conducted in May by Redflex Traffic Systems reported no violations on westbound Oakton Street, and the company did not recommend a camera there. Redflex has a contract with the city of Chicago where it has installed 248 red light enforcement cameras since 2003.
According to the proposed four-year contract between the city and RedSpeed, the city will be liable for up to $30,000 of RedSpeed’s costs if it terminates the agreement before 18 months have passed.
The monthly fee for the camera is $1,500, which will be paid by the citations issued for violations. The contract does, however, include a “cost neutrality” clause so that if the camera does not generate enough revenue to cover the monthly fee, the city will not have to pay RedSpeed more than what was collected.
In order to equip the intersection with a camera, the Illinois Department of Transportation requires that new, LED lights be installed on the traffic signals. The cost will be split 50-50 between the city and RedSpeed, according to the contract. Mike Lebert, a representative of RedSpeed, said revenue from red light violation tickets will cover the city’s expense, and there is a grant the city can apply for as well. City Engineer Sarah Mitchell said the LED upgrade at Oakton and Northwest Highway could cost between $20,000 and $25,000.
If the number of violations at Oakton and Northwest Highway diminishes, the city will have the option of selecting a new intersection for the camera. If no intersection is selected, the city will be responsible for up to $30,000 of RedSpeed’s costs if the 18 month period has not expired. If the camera is relocated, the new intersection will need to be equipped with LED lights as well.
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A collection of red light camera studies over the last decade shows red light cameras have serious side-effects.
http://www.schaumburgfreedom.com/public-safety/what-are-red-light-cameras-really-used-for/
Over the past decade, a number of studies have examined the use of red light cameras. The most relevant studies examined the devices in light of changes in traffic and engineering conditions made at intersections during the study period and pulled actual police reports to examine the particular causes of each collision. The following studies are the most comprehensive available:
A 2008 University of South Florida report found:
“Comprehensive studies conclude cameras actually increase crashes and injuries, providing a safety argument not to install them…. public policy should avoid conflicts of interest that enhance revenues for government and private interests at the risk of public safety.”
A 2007 Virginia Department of Transportation study found:
“The cameras were associated with an increase in total crashes… The aggregate EB results suggested that this increase was 29%… The cameras were associated with an increase in the frequency of injury crashes… The aggregate EB results suggested an 18% increase, although the point estimates for individual jurisdictions were substantially higher (59%, 79%, or 89% increases) or lower (6% increase or a 5% decrease).”
I just got into a car accident at this intersection because the guy in front of me slammed on his breaks as soon as the yellow light came on. I slammed on mine too but could not stop in time. The 2 cars beside us went through . The guy’s excuse was he was afraid there was a red light camera there so he decided to slam on his brakes.
trina,
That guy’s excuse is valid. You were following too closely. When you rear end someone, you’re at fault, 100% of the time. As much as I hate the cameras and the effects they have, you MUST be in control of your vehicle and able to stop under any situation, camera or not.