Longer yellow light could put
brakes on Fremont's profits
brakes on Fremont's profits
By Matthew Artz
Oakland Tribune
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 03/20/2011 09:32:26 AM PDT
Updated: 03/20/2011 09:53:45 AM PDT
Updated: 03/20/2011 09:53:45 AM PDT
FREMONT -- Seven-tenths of a second goes by in
the blink of an eye, but it's enough time to
dramatically reduce violations at Fremont's most
ticketed red-light camera approach and potentially
cut in half the city's red-light camera enforcement
profit.
At the request of a red-light camera opponent,
Caltrans last November studied vehicle speeds
approaching the south Fremont intersection of
Mission and Mohave boulevards, which is part of a
state highway. Based on the evidence collected,
Caltrans extended yellow-light times from the
minimum-allowed 4.3 seconds to 5 seconds.
The switch likely was made with safety in mind, but
the most measurable change thus far has been the
sudden 62 percent drop in red-light tickets at the
approach, which last year accounted for nearly one
in five of all camera-enforced tickets in Fremont.
The sharp drop in tickets has helped reignite a
long-running debate over whether the key to safer
roads is red-light camera enforcement or slightly
longer yellow lights.
"To me, it's pretty clear and convincing evidence
that if we were serious about safety, we would look a
t extending yellow-light times," said Roger Jones,
the Fremont resident who requested Caltrans study
the intersection.
the blink of an eye, but it's enough time to
dramatically reduce violations at Fremont's most
ticketed red-light camera approach and potentially
cut in half the city's red-light camera enforcement
profit.
At the request of a red-light camera opponent,
Caltrans last November studied vehicle speeds
approaching the south Fremont intersection of
Mission and Mohave boulevards, which is part of a
state highway. Based on the evidence collected,
Caltrans extended yellow-light times from the
minimum-allowed 4.3 seconds to 5 seconds.
The switch likely was made with safety in mind, but
the most measurable change thus far has been the
sudden 62 percent drop in red-light tickets at the
approach, which last year accounted for nearly one
in five of all camera-enforced tickets in Fremont.
The sharp drop in tickets has helped reignite a
long-running debate over whether the key to safer
roads is red-light camera enforcement or slightly
longer yellow lights.
"To me, it's pretty clear and convincing evidence
that if we were serious about safety, we would look a
t extending yellow-light times," said Roger Jones,
the Fremont resident who requested Caltrans study
the intersection.
Caltrans, which oversees traffic signals on two of
Fremont's 10 red-light camera approaches, did not
respond to requests to discuss its traffic study.
Fremont Traffic Engineer David Huynh said that
lengthening a yellow light
based on a study of vehicle speeds could improve
safety, but that artificially long yellow-light times
most likely would lead to longer lines of cars
waiting for their light to turn green.
Fremont police defend the camera system, pointing
to studies showing that it has reduced collisions.
Also, the city's camera system has not only paid for
itself, it has been generating annual profits of more
than $300,000 in recent years.
But the longer yellow light at Mission and Mohave
could take a large bite out of that profit. During the
last seven months, that intersection has dropped
from the city's top ticket generator to fifth-highest.
Fremont receives just under $166 for every $476
red-light camera ticket that is paid in full, city
officials said.
At Mission and Mohave the number of citations
dropped from an average of 185 in the three months
before the yellow lights were extended to an average
of 71 from December through February.
Assuming that the city collects about three-quarters
of the ticket revenue, it stands to lose nearly
$170,000 over the course of a year.
In Newark, yellow lights at all camera-enforced
intersections are set 0.7 seconds longer than state
minimums. The city didn't set yellows longer to
promote safety, but to ensure the system was
consistent and that tickets would hold up in court,
Fremont's 10 red-light camera approaches, did not
respond to requests to discuss its traffic study.
Fremont Traffic Engineer David Huynh said that
lengthening a yellow light
based on a study of vehicle speeds could improve
safety, but that artificially long yellow-light times
most likely would lead to longer lines of cars
waiting for their light to turn green.
Fremont police defend the camera system, pointing
to studies showing that it has reduced collisions.
Also, the city's camera system has not only paid for
itself, it has been generating annual profits of more
than $300,000 in recent years.
But the longer yellow light at Mission and Mohave
could take a large bite out of that profit. During the
last seven months, that intersection has dropped
from the city's top ticket generator to fifth-highest.
Fremont receives just under $166 for every $476
red-light camera ticket that is paid in full, city
officials said.
At Mission and Mohave the number of citations
dropped from an average of 185 in the three months
before the yellow lights were extended to an average
of 71 from December through February.
Assuming that the city collects about three-quarters
of the ticket revenue, it stands to lose nearly
$170,000 over the course of a year.
In Newark, yellow lights at all camera-enforced
intersections are set 0.7 seconds longer than state
minimums. The city didn't set yellows longer to
promote safety, but to ensure the system was
consistent and that tickets would hold up in court,
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Newark police Chief Jim Leal said.
Subsequent traffic studies have shown no safety
problems from the longer yellow lights, he said.
Fremont sets yellow lights throughout the city
between 0.1 and 0.4 seconds above minimums.
Subsequent traffic studies have shown no safety
problems from the longer yellow lights, he said.
Fremont sets yellow lights throughout the city
between 0.1 and 0.4 seconds above minimums.
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