With Cameras Gone, How Safe Are Notorious Intersections?

WHAT’S HAPPENED SINCE THE CAMERAS TURNED OFF? That question comes from Bob, who says via email “as it’s been several months since the red light/speed/robo-cop cams have gone blind, has anyone done a cursory review of statistics, e.g. have rear-enders decreased, has T-boning increased; etc?”

He continues, “if I remember correctly, human policing of some notorious intersections was supposed to increase. Does this continue? Has any headway been made in terms of the collection of delinquent fines? Anything else of relevance?”

Plenty, with more to come from the Mayor’s Office this week.

TRAFFIC CRACKDOWN: Dayna Gardner, director of communications for Mayor Richard Berry, says several things happened when the cameras were turned off Dec. 14.

In fact, there was a tactical (TAC) plan put in place. Gardner says it included:

♦ Every day from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at least one of APD’s 21 motorcycle unit officers will be assigned to each of the 20 intersections that used to have red-light cameras in addition to their other duties. They will still be available to answer calls to serious crashes and will be targeting red-light runners and speeders.

Previously, APD’s Motorcycle unit patrolled areas in which there were complaints of speeders.

(Those 20 former camera intersections are Academy/Wyoming, Central/Coors, Central/Eubank, Coors/Quail, Coors Bypass/Ellison, Lomas/Eubank, Lomas/Juan Tabo, Lomas/Wyoming, Louisiana/Central, Menaul/Carlisle, Menaul/Louisiana, Menaul/San Mateo, Menaul/Wyoming, Montaño/Coors, Montgomery/Carlisle, Montgomery/Eubank, Montgomery/San Mateo, Montgomery/Wyoming, Paseo del Norte/Coors and Paseo/Jefferson.)

♦ APD is also ordering all of its school resource officers to look for speeders in school zones before and after classes when school is in session.

♦ The Traffic Unit is redirecting its resources to the intersections but there will be no overtime involved. Gardner says “this crackdown did not cost any additional money (and was) handled via reassignment of duties.”

So how has the stepped-up enforcement played out?

“In the first week of the crackdown,” Gardner says, “152 citations were written. In New Mexico, citations can cost motorists up to $270 depending on their speed. Up to $3 of that money goes to the city through the state.”

YELLOW SIGNAL STUDY: In addition, drivers will remember the Department of Municipal Development adjusted the timing of the yellow signals Jan. 1. “Since the changes were made engineers have been collecting data. The University of New Mexico is now examining the data collected, and we will report” this week “on the safety impact of changes in the yellow-light interval timings at 18 intersections that they monitored over the last year.”

(Those 18 intersections with longer yellows are Academy/Wyoming, Central/Coors, Central/Eubank, Coors/Quail, Coors Bypass/Ellison, Lomas/Eubank, Lomas/Juan Tabo, Lomas/Wyoming, Menaul/Carlisle, Menaul/Louisiana, Menaul/San Mateo, Menaul/Wyoming, Montgomery/Carlisle, Montgomery/Eubank, Montgomery/San Mateo, Montgomery/Wyoming, Paseo del Norte/Coors and Paseo del Norte/Jefferson.)

FINE COLLECTIONS: As for tracking down delinquent fines, Andrea Aker, spokeswoman for Redflex Traffic Systems, says “there is approximately $21 million in outstanding fines representing roughly 200,000 violations. Redflex has been contracted to assist the city in fulfilling this obligation. At this time we are in the final review process with a number of collection companies. We expect to begin collection efforts within a couple months.”

Assistant editorial page editor D’Val Westphal tackles commuter issues for the Metro area on Mondays and West Siders and Rio Ranchoans on Thursdays. Reach her at 823-3858; road@abqjournal.com; P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103; or go to ABQjournal.com/traffic to read previous columns and join in the conversation.
— This article appeared on page A4 of the Albuquerque Journal