News Flash

The city of Frisco has a new red-light safety camera at the intersection of Preston Road and Warren Parkway. A 30-day warning period will begin today, and the first day notices will be issued will be November 30th. The new camera will focus on the southbound Preston approach with Warren.

During the warning period, the camera will capture still images and video of the back end of vehicles running red lights. A warning notice will be issued to each vehicle’s registered owner. Fines are not issued during this phase.

“This will be our 5th red light safety camera in Frisco, and we are hoping that it is successful like the others have been in reducing crashes. Not only have we seen a reduction in crashes at our other photo-enforced intersections, we have only seen a 4% recidivism rate in people running red lights. At the Preston and Warren intersection we have seen 60 crashes in the past 5 years with 21 injuries associated with those crashes. We want to lower those numbers, and photo enforcement is one option we can use to do that.” said Deputy Chief David Shilson.

Frisco launched its red-light safety camera program in February 2011 in partnership with American Traffic Solutions. Currently the city operates four cameras at three intersections:

• Preston Road and Lebanon Road
• Preston Road and Gaylord Parkway
• Legacy Drive and Main Street

“Many people are opposed to red light cameras because they think it’s all about money. Nothing can be further from the truth. Red light cameras are about safety; not just the safety of the red light runner but the safety of the innocent drivers going about their business who could get blindsided by someone who is just in too much of a hurry to wait for a red light.” said Bob Moroch who is a member of the Frisco Citizen Advisory Committee on Photo Enforcement that approved plans for the new camera.

Sean Merrell who also sits on the committee said “As a traffic engineer who has analyzed traffic crashes, traffic operations and traffic safety measures for the past 15 years, I can truly say that red light enforcement cameras are one of the most effective measures to reducing the severity and number of crashes involving red light running. These cameras save lives!”
Red-light safety cameras operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When a driver approaches and enters the intersection after the light has turned red, the camera captures still images and video of the event. Frisco police receive the evidence and determine whether a citation is issued.