Lakemoor may put red-light cameras at Route 12/120 intersection

Lakemoor could be the next village to turn to technology to cut down on traffic accidents.

Lakemoor Village President Todd Weihofen said village leaders are reviewing data to decide whether to equip the Route 12 and Route 120 intersection with a red-light camera.

He said the camera, supplied by SafeSpeed LLC of Chicago, would be used as a deterrent to speeders and people who run red lights at the busiest and most dangerous intersection in the village.

He said the cameras would be used strictly to increase safety, and not as a revenue generator, a charge commonly made by opponents to the devices.

"This is simply a safety issue, not a monetary issue," he said. "That intersection produces more accidents than anywhere else in town and the cameras can reduce those accidents up to 30 percent."

He said SafeSpeed would send tickets to the drivers who speed through or run a red light at the intersection, on the village's west side. Should drivers appeal the ticket, the village's police department would review camera footage and determine if there was an infraction or not.

"We will have total control of it and have the ability to overrule a ticket issued by the company," he said. "We also aren't interested in going after people who turn right on red or anything like that. We are interested in people who speed through intersections or simply run the red lights."

Police Chief Glenn Leonard, who has been on the job for about a month, said Route 12 and Route 120 is one of the busiest intersections in Lake County, and the cameras are needed there to reduce accidents that often result in injuries.

"We think a red-light camera at that intersection can significantly reduce the impact that accidents have at that intersection," he said. "By using a red-light camera, we have the opportunity to save lives and reduce accidents."

However, Weihofen acknowledged that some trustees are worried that adding a camera could actually increase the number of accidents, because drivers tend to slam on their brakes to avoid getting a ticket.

"It may cause a rear-end or two, but it will significantly reduce the number of head-on and side collisions we have, which prove more fatal in the long run," he said. "I'm in favor of it. Anything to reduce accidents and save the lives of motorists I am in favor of."