Aurora to decide on red-light cameras

Aurora motorists who run a red light could soon be caught on camera.

In an effort to increase safety at dangerous intersections, aldermen are considering a plan to put up enforcement cameras at 20 of the city's worst sites.

Officials are expected to vote on a proposed three-year contract at next week's city council meeting.

Other local towns such as Naperville, which approved its plan last month, have already turned to red light cameras.

Aurora police would work with Redflex Traffic Systems of Arizona to determine what intersections have the most accidents and would best qualify for camera installation.

Orchard and Eola roads and Route 59 were mentioned as problem spots at Tuesday's committee of the whole meeting.

The cameras are intended to reduce the number of motorists who run red lights -- and thus, cause accidents.

After 16 cameras were installed in El Paso, the city saw an 80 percent overall reduction in collisions at those intersections, Redflex leaders said.

Aurora officers would review their own cameras. A camera could elicit between five and 10 violations per day, a Redflex representative said.

Citations would be sent to the owner of the car.

The cameras won't cost the city anything. The program would be funded solely through the revenue it generates, Redflex leaders say. There's also a possibility the city could make money.

However, opponents say numerous studies show red light cameras actually increase rear-end collisions.

Drivers who normally would head through a yellow light may stop suddenly at the sight of a camera, said Aaron Quinn, spokesman for the National Motorists Association in Wisconsin. "The person behind them thinks they'll go through and rams them from behind," he said.

There are safer options than cameras, he said, such as improving the design of intersections or adding an all-red clear signal. However, he admits these solutions could cost more.