COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The numbers are in, and fewer drivers are running red lights, at least at four intersections in Colorado Springs where red light cameras have been installed.
The red light cameras were installed back in October at four locations:
Platte Avenue & Murray Boulevard
Platte Avenue & Circle Drive
Nevada Avenue & Bijou Street
Oro Blanco Drive & Barnes Road
Those four intersections were chosen because officials said they were known to be dangerous.
"We knew that people had a tendency to push the lights at those intersections, and it was leading to very serious crashes, life changing, life taking crashes," Sgt. Steve Noblitt with the Colorado Springs Police Department said.
The city has released six months of data from October to March for those intersections, and while they will admit that it's still early, they said the results so far are encouraging.
According to the data, all four intersections have seen a drop in red light runners.
The biggest change has been seen at Platte Avenue and Murray Boulevard, where there has been a 47 percent decrease in violations. The intersection with the smallest change is at Nevada Avenue and Bijou.
"Based on the success that we've seen, we feel hopeful that this is the kind of program that can really be effective at reducing side impact crashes, which as you know can be some of the most deadly crashes that there are," John Leavitt, City Spokesperson, said.
Officials said they hope stopping for red will become a habit for drivers.
"We hope that motorists who slow down through this intersection that's coming up because there's a red light enforcement camera can maybe slow down at other intersections all the way home," Leavitt said.
Noblitt agreed that making drivers aware of where the cameras are helps.
"We've had comments from people that have indicated that they are gonna change the way that they approach any intersection, as a result of the photo red intersections, so I really believe the program is working," Noblitt said.
Noblitt said technology has been a helpful tool as the Police Department has faced budget cuts.
"We don't have to have the officers sitting at the intersection," Noblitt said. "They're able to be out on the streets responding to calls for service, and the photo technology is able to continue to work 24 hours a day, even though the officers aren't there."
Not only is the program making drivers think twice, it's also making the city money.
"We've probably made about $100,000 or so in fines through this program," Leavitt said.
Leavitt said some of the money goes back to the vendor to pay for maintenance and upkeep, and the rest goes into the general fund.
"All the money in the general fund you know goes to police and to fire and fixing roads and parks, and all those things that the city provides," Leavitt said.
City officials said it's not about making money though, it's about making the streets safer.
"When we started this program the whole intention was to focus on safety, meaning we wanted to change the driving behaviors," Noblitt said.
Leavitt agreed.
"We chose these four intersections based on their safety performance, they were poor," Leavitt said. "We had intersection crashes there, and we had lots of concerns with these four intersections, and you know the good news is we've found that people seem to be taking notice of that and to us its all about safety."
Each ticket runs $75 but doesn't cost drivers any points on their license.
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