At a recent meeting, Milford City Council heard a presentation from DelDOT regarding the addition of red-light cameras. According to Dustin Shane of DelDOT, the red-light cameras are part of an initiative in the state transportation department to move from reactive to proactive when it comes to traffic safety.
“Our pledge of allegiance at the federal and state level is the safe system approach, kind of a way to go around the wheel,” Matt Buckley of DelDOT said. “Death and serious injury are unacceptable, and that is kind of the theme of red-light cameras. One of the things I want to point out is that the old-fashioned way is to prevent crashes, but the new focus is on zero fatalities.”
Buckley pointed out that the Holland Tunnel has 60,000 residents who use it every day, and the city where it is located is the most densely populated city in the country. After implementing the Safe System Approach, they have had zero fatal crashes over a seven-year period.
“Our criteria for selecting where a red-light camera is installed have not changed in nearly a decade,” Buckley said. “It focuses on safety first, not revenue. The initial screening is for about 1,100 signals statewide. We look at crashes related to red light running (RLR) and then compile a list of the top ones in the state.”
Once the intersection is identified, police narratives are reviewed to determine the at-fault approach and movements. Once that review is complete, intersections are re-ranked, and 6 AM to 10 PM video data is collected to assess violation frequency.
“We are looking to install 11 cameras, and it just so happens that three of the worst of the worst are located in Milford,” Buckley said. “The intersection at US 113 and 14 ranked 20 with 15 RLR crashes, State Route 14 at Washington Street was 42 with 12 RLR crashes, and US 113 at Airport Road ranked 57 with 11 RLR crashes.”
Buckley explained that the US 113 and 14 intersection is a high-crash area that must be monitored, and noted there were 129 violations in one 16-hour period. It is recommended that red light cameras be installed in all four directions. He also stated there were 50 violations in a 16-hour monitoring period at Front and Washington Street and 62 violations in a 16-hour monitoring period at US 113 and Airport Road.
“After the installation of traffic light cameras, fatal crashes were reduced 100 percent and serious injury crashes 73 percent,” Buckley said. “There was an increase in rear-end crashes by 10 percent, but angle crashes, which are usually more severe, dropped 41 percent and RLR crashes by 25 percent.”
Buckley explained that there were expenses incurred with the cameras, but those expenses were offset by fine revenue. In 2023, the last year data was available, net revenue after expenses from all traffic cameras in the state was $666,881.89. Any net revenue in the positive is given to the municipality. If there is a deficit, the state subsidizes the costs as the ultimate goal is not revenue but creating safer intersections.
“We’re not here asking for your approval, but asking for your input,” Buckley said. “Some of the items that we’ve highlighted here would go into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the state and Milford. We spoke to Chief Ashe as there would be roles and responsibilities for her officers should we go to court. We would provide someone to attest that the camera was functioning properly and provide details on what to do on appeal.”
Councilman Dan Marabello asked if there were ever repeat offenders after the cameras were installed. Buckley stated that they happened quite often, but there was no escalation of fines with repeat offenders. Running a red light is a civil penalty with a fine of $137.50. Councilwoman Lori Connor asked how long it would take to add the cameras.
“The ones on 113 have relatively easy tie-ins, so the infrastructure is there already,” Buckley said. “It is also a traffic light that DelDOT already owns. The one on Route 14 downtown is a little bit more delicate because it is downtown, and the city would handle violations.”
City manager Mark Whitfield pointed out that a red-light camera violation went to the owner of the vehicle, not specifically to the driver.
“That is correct, but there is a three-day transfer of liability period,” Buckley said. “So, rental car companies make you fill out a form for that. If you let someone borrow your car and they run a red light, you fill out the transfer of liability, and the next round of love letters go to them for the $137.50.”
Mayor Todd Culotta asked for an explanation of when the camera would activate, wondering if it was as soon as the driver saw the red light or when the vehicle was in the intersection.
“What if you are in the middle of the intersection when it changes?” Culotta asked. “A lot of people see the yellow and speed up, you see it turning, so you try to beat it. When is the camera activated?” Councilwoman Madula Kalesis joked that she did not know what Culotta was talking about.
Buckley explained that the camera activation would be set by the vendor, but it normally activated when the front of the vehicle crossed the white line when the light was red, not before it turned red. In some cases, an officer reviewing the red-light violation could use discretion.
“Our friends at the state police, we have been in court enough to know that if you stop in the middle of a crosswalk beyond the stop line and you almost mow someone down, you’re going to be read the riot act if you show up in court,” Buckley said. “You may not have gone all the way through, but you still violated the law, and if there is someone in the crosswalk, it is highly unlikely you will be successful in court.”
Council approved the issuance of an MOU between the city and DelDOT for red light cameras at the three intersections.
