Mayor: Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, April 21, 2005

CITY OF FREDERICK’S EFFORT TO ELIMINATE 'MOST DANGEROUS' CRASHES…JOINS NATIONWIDE FIGHT AGAINST RED LIGHT RUNNING

Frederick, Md. --- The City of Frederick will soon become the latest American community to use photo enforcement to reduce the number of collisions caused by red light runners. Nestor Traffic Systems Inc., a leading provider of digital imaging solutions for traffic management and road safety, is currently installing red light cameras at three high-risk intersections.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), red light running causes more than 260,000 crashes each year, and 1,000 fatalities, and these numbers continue to rise. IIHS stats show that across America the use of stop light cameras reduce the frequency of crashes between seven to 20 percent, and injuries from crashes decrease by 29 to 46 percent.
Crashes at traffic signals cost Americans an estimated $14 billion annually in medical costs, time off work, insurance increases and property damage. The impact of personal and emotional trauma is incalculable.
Kim C. Dine, Chief of the Frederick Police Department, supports the program. “Our philosophy of public safety translates to all communities. Red light running collisions are among the most dangerous. Anyone, of any age, in or near an intersection could become a red light running injury victim. Our application of this program is as much education as it is enforcement. We want Frederick’s driving public to be aware of our enforcement initiatives and to voluntarily comply with traffic laws. To the Police Department, these cameras represent another law enforcement public safety tool, like radar for speeding or alarms for burglaries.”
Red light runners are most likely to be younger than 30, have multiple speeding convictions, and are less likely to use seat belts than other drivers. Fatally injured red light runners are six times more likely to have a blood alcohol level of 0.10 percent or more than other drivers in such crashes according to the IIHS.
Each camera system will consist of three cameras that will capture through video the violator's car, front and rear license plate, which are used to identify vehicles and to generate citations.
Adam Briggs, Nestor Traffic Systems, Inc., program manager expects the cameras to start operating in the near future, “We are instituting red light cameras for two reasons: to catch drivers who violate the law, and to use significant fines to deter other motorists from running red lights."
Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty has supported this safety effort since its conception. “The statistics from around the country show that red light cameras can reduce collisions by changing driving patterns.” She added, “Yesterday’s presentation by Nestor launched the City’s public awareness/public information campaign. It is our hopes that we are able to make our roadways safer.”