Red Light Camera Testing Underway

Motorists, take care. The days of rolling through red lights unnoticed are over.

Springfield has installed and activated traffic safety cameras to record red light runners in all directions of the intersection of Morris and Maple Avenues, an intersection designated as dangerous by township and New Jersey Department of Transportation officials.

A 30-day test period for the cameras went into effect on Wednesday, April 18. Until the testing period ends on May 17, red light cameras will record infractions, but will not issue summonses. Springfield officials have planned to accurately adjust the system to prevent incorrect citations. Summonses will be issued starting May 18.

“We’ve identified several critical intersections where disregard of traffic lights are of major concern,” Public Safety Director Rich Rosell said in an email.

Rosell said that with the traffic safety cameras in place, the township expect to see a reduction in severe collisions that can result from accidents at intersections.

“Motor vehicle accidents that occur in intersections are often side-impact crashes, which tend to cause severe damage and fatalities,” Rosell said.

Officials said the goal of the system is simple: they want drivers to pay attention, slow down and stop.

“This Automated Photo Enforcement System is enabling us to work smarter, more efficiently and to reduce the needless tragedies that result when motorists ignore red lights,” Springfield Mayor Ziad Andrew Shehady said in an email.

Shehady noted that over two dozen New Jersey municipalities have installed traffic safety cameras with the hopes of changing driver behavior.

“Springfield is now part of that effort,” Shehady said. “The bottom line is safety is a top priority and this system can help save lives.”

Shehady also reassured the public about any privacy concerns, saying that the camera feeds will not be actively monitored and can only be used to enforce red-light laws.