Street Road Safety Stressed With Automated Red Lights

WARMINSTER TOWNSHIP, PA — Warminster Police and township officials hope that automated red lights at two key intersections will help reduce accidents on Street Road.

Warminster Police said that they will enforce Automated Red-Light violations at the intersections of Street Road and York Road, and Street Road and Jacksonville Road.

Subscribe

The program is expected to begin in mid-November with a warning period first for drivers.

Police said the program is intended to improve traffic safety, reduce red-light violations, and help prevent serious motor vehicle crashes on Street Road.

Drivers are encouraged to use caution when approaching intersections, remain attentive to traffic signals, and never accelerate to beat a changing light, police said.

Automated camera technology will identify vehicles that enter an intersection after the traffic signal has turned red.

"Red-light violations can result in devastating collisions involving motorists, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Automated enforcement is intended to reinforce responsible driving and reduce preventable crashes," police said.

The program operates under Pennsylvania's Automated Red Light Enforcement framework, established under Title 75, Section 3117 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.

This law authorizes qualifying municipalities to enforce certain traffic-signal violations through approved automated red-light enforcement systems, subject to statutory requirements.

These include approval of designated intersections, appropriate advance signage, procedures for issuing notices of violation, and protections for vehicle owners.

Under the statute, qualifying violations carry a $100 fine unless a lower amount is established by ordinance. The penalty is civil in nature, does not result in points on a driver's record, and is not treated as a criminal conviction.

During the initial warning period, drivers will have an opportunity to become familiar with the program and correct unsafe driving behavior before monetary penalties are imposed.

Pennsylvania law provides for a 60-day warning period at the initial intersection and a 30-day warning period at each additional intersection.

Several municipalities have automated red lights, including Warrington, Bensalem, and Abington townships.