The final red-light camera for the state Department of Transportation’s pilot project is up and running in Honolulu.
The red-light safety program will run for two years to see whether or not the cameras reduce crashes and injuries caused by running red lights.
The project officially begins when all 10 cameras issue traffic tickets.
According to DOT, traffic tickets for running a red light can cost from $97 to $200. The 10 cameras are all in urban Honolulu intersections with a history of high crash rates.
The most recent red light camera is on the corner of South King Street and Ward Avenue. The camera will issue infraction warnings until May 28 before charging for traffic tickets.
The sensor in the roadway communicates with the lights. If drivers pass the stop line while the light is red, the system will capture an image of the vehicle's license plate. The system is not designed to catch an image of the driver due to privacy concerns.
The collected information will be sent to the Honolulu Police Department. If the officer is satisfied that the burden is met, then the registered owner of the vehicle will be issued a citation.
DOT reported more than 200 warnings issued from the Palama Street intersection from the beginning of October to mid-November of 2022.
Ed Sniffen, the DOT Deputy Director of Highways, told HPR in November that there was an average of 11 red light runnings per day prior to the cameras.
"If you cross that line one-tenth of a second after that light turns red, you’ll be fined," Sniffen said.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, cameras have reduced fatal red-light crashes by 21% in the U.S.
"Well-publicized camera programs discourage would-be violators from taking the odds that they’re going to get caught because it increases their thought that they might get caught if they run a red light," Vice President of Research at IIHS Jessica Cicchino said previously.
Full list of intersections with red-light cameras:
- Vineyard Boulevard and Pālama Street
- Vineyard Boulevard and Liliha Street
- Vineyard Boulevard and Nuʻuanu Avenue
- Pali Highway and Vineyard Boulevard
- Pali Highway and School Street
- Likelike Highway and School Street
- King Street and Ward Avenue
- Kapiʻolani Boulevard and Kamakeʻe Street
- Beretania Street and Piʻikoi Street
- McCully Street and Algaroba Street
