CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc., a leading provider of road safety technology throughout North America, announced today 13 cities throughout California opted to renew or extend their automated photo enforcement programs between July 2013 and July 2014.

Local officials have equipped the following cities with red light cameras at intersections with a historically high incidence of violations or crashes:

• Menlo Park
• Beverly Hills
• Sacramento
• Culver City
• Santa Clarita
• Montebello
• Vista
• Elk Grove
• Bakersfield
• Lynwood
• Stockton
• Ventura
• Napa

Red light cameras are designed to capture and store data of a vehicle, including video and high-resolution images, if it enters an intersection after the signal turns red. A local police officer reviews evidence of potential violations and has sole discretion to determine if a citation is warranted. Drivers found in violation receive a ticket in the mail. They can review images and video of their violations before paying or contesting the citation.

“Automated photo enforcement is one of the most effective tools that law enforcement agencies have at their disposal to curb red-light running and the resulting deadly crashes,” said Jim Saunders, president and CEO of Redflex. “Our clients find value in the technology, the deterrent factor it generates and the significant improvements they have made in improving public safety.”

Crashes resulting from red light running incidents – referred to as right angle or “T-bone” crashes – are considered the most deadly type of auto collision. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released a study in 2011 that found 14 cities operating red light enforcement programs between 2004 and 2008 experienced a 24-percent drop in deadly collisions. Had similar programs been operating during that period in all large cities, more than 800 deaths could have been prevented, the analysis found.

In addition to acting as a deterrent and reducing accidents and loss of life, Saunders says red light enforcement programs serve as “police force multipliers.”

“It’s unrealistic to place patrols at every dangerous intersection 24/7,” he said. “These programs enable law enforcement agencies to free up resources and redirect their officers to other high-priority tasks while still increasing public safety at intersections where red light running is prevalent.”

Saunders adds that automated enforcement solutions also yield significant cost savings to a community due to fewer property damage claims, lower insurance premiums and reduced medical expenses.

To learn more about automated photo enforcement, visit www.redflex.com.

About Redflex Traffic Systems®, Inc.

Redflex Traffic Systems®, Inc., a leader in road safety technology, operates more than 2,000 photo enforcement systems in more than 200 cities throughout the United States and Canada. With continuous development of new safety products, Redflex has been helping to reduce collisions and save lives for more than 25 years. For more information, visit www.redflex.com.