FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — The City of Fresno approved a plan Thursday aimed at eliminating all traffic-related deaths.<\/p>\n
“It’s going to better position our city to go after grant funding so that we can start implementing a lot of these strategies in the plan. The goal is to get down to zero traffic-related fatalities in our city,” councilmember Annalisa Perea told Action News.<\/p>\n
The plan spans 121 pages and calls for several changes, including new traffic signals and protected bike lanes. On page 67, it also outlines the potential use of red-light cameras.<\/p>\n
“There is data to support that these red-light cameras do help prevent traffic accidents and prevent traffic deaths,” Council President Nelson Esparza told Action News.<\/p>\n
Esparza said the city would evaluate the most dangerous intersections, including Friant and Shepherd, which is already known for crashes.<\/p>\n
“…probably start there on a pilot basis and move our way down a list of the most dangerous intersections based on data,” Esparza said.<\/p>\n
The city previously tested red-light cameras about 20 years ago, when Mayor Jerry Dyer was police chief.<\/p>\n
“At that time, you had to identify who the driver of the vehicle was and what happened at the three locations that we were testing, cameras, red light cameras. It was very common for people to drive through those intersections with the sun visor down,” Dyer told Action News.<\/p>\n
Technology has improved with better cameras, and state law now allows police to issue a violation to the vehicle owner rather than a citation to the driver.<\/p>\n
“I believe it’s fair on the part of the fact that it’s just like (with) a parking violation. If somebody parks, and they’re in a handicapped zone and there’s a 250 or $300 fine, it goes to the registered owner of that vehicle, not necessarily the person who parked it there,” Dyer said.<\/p>\n
Red light cameras are still months away, as the city must secure funding and the full city council must vote.<\/p>\n
“I would like to bring that forward before I term out,” Esparza said. He will leave office in January.<\/p>\n
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