SAN ANTONIO — Have the red light cameras in Leon Valley been working?
We found out the answer is a resounding yes with the number of accidents down, and Leon Valley residents saying they feel safer.
Leon Valley Chief of Police Joseph Salvaggio said "Injury accidents are even down by 62 percent overall, so the type of accidents have changed. They are all down, even the one that people like to say, that rear end accidents increase. It's not true. We are still down 21 percent."
Not only are accidents down, but the number of citations per camera, which started with a peak of about 22 per camera in March, dropped to an average of 13 in December. The number of citations issued by month also dropped considerably, from close to 7,000 in March to just over 4,100 in December. That's a whopping 40 percent! "That's 40 percent less chances for accidents," Chief Salvaggio said. "That's 40 percent less chances for injuries and that's an outstanding number for us."
Only 6 percent of red light camera citations in 2018 were issued to Leon Valley residents. And out of those who were cited, only 6 percent were got caught running a red light more than once.
Before the red light cameras were installed, from July of 2017 to January of 2018, there were 128 accidents at the programmed intersections. After installation, from February through August of 2018 there were only 94. That's a reduction of 27 percent.
It isn't just a computer producing and mailing out citations. Leon Valley City Manager Kelly Kuenstler said "An actual certified peace officer actually reviews every single incident before a ticket is ever mailed to a driver."
Ten percent of the tickets do get tossed by that officer. And even then, you can still appeal your ticket if you think it isn't valid. The red light cameras have also had a huge impact on pedestrian safety.
"We actually have a visually impaired citizen who is praising the program because he doesn't feel so afraid to maneuver the crosswalks on Bandera Road any longer," Kuenstler said.
From March through September of 2018 the red light camera citations brought in over $1.6 million, and once all costs are covered, what's left goes back into traffic safety programs, including lighting, signage and more officers to handle accidents.