Caught Red-Handed

Chaerin Kang
Nov 4
3 min read

By James Tong Nov. 12, 2025

To improve safety on the roads, San José is installing new red-light cameras at selected intersections that have been labeled as the most dangerous. Titled Vision Zero, this initiative is the latest effort from the city to reduce collisions through using cameras to reduce speeding and running red lights, and has been implemented as of August this year.

Red-light running is when a driver crosses an intersection after the light has already turned red, which is one of the primary causes of fatal crashes in San José; between 2019 and 2023, San José recorded 7,671 collisions due to speeding and red-light running, ending in 64 deaths and 409 severe injuries, per the San José Department of Transportati on. Among the designated locations to implement cameras, four cameras that target red-light running are to be installed by the end of this year at the four intersections that are listed as especially dangerous, including Leigh Avenue at Parkmoor Avenue, Monterey Road at Branham Lane, South Third Street at Keyes Street and Bascom Avenue at Camden Avenue.

The city's Vision Zero program aims to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries by 30% by 2030 and eliminate them completely by 2040. Specifically, the newly installed cameras identify red-light runnings and illegal turns without a full stop by capturing videos and photos when the sensor detects a vehicle crossing the line of demarcation. The police department then reviews the footage and will issue fines ranging from $50 to $500, depending on the severity of the incident, per the San José Spotlight. Additionally, San José mayor Matt Mahan claims that cameras will help end preventable injuries and death.

Residents have responded to this camera implementation program with a mix of support and concern. According to ABC7 News, some believe the cameras are a viable way to encourage drivers to follow the rules and drive more safely, while others worry about fairness and the potential misinterpretation of situations based on a single camera angle. The majority of the residents interviewed on ABC7 News viewed the cameras positively, as they cited illegal activity at intersections, such as burnouts at night, or were worried about overall safety concerns if cameras were not functioning properly.

"For teens, driving safely really comes down to whether they have good awareness when they feel like they have the freedom to have fun—whether they choose to habituate dangerous driving practices. Teen drivers should know when their driving is crossing the line, but often reckless driving is a conscious decision that they are willing to make despite knowing dangers and potential fines with the newly installed cameras," Junior Isaac Litwiller said.

This program highlights San José's problem with traffic accidents, where in 2022, there were 65 recorded traffic fatalities, and in 2023, there were 49, per Vision Zero Update. As such, the red-light camera program is just a part of San José's overall goal for enforcement, safety and community outreach. The city has kick-started a speed enforcement program, a section under Vision Zero, which may include up to 33 speed-safety cameras to be implemented before 2032. As a whole, these programs are San José's approach to making the streets safer.

"The red-light cameras may be effective to some extent, but many drivers will likely continue the same habits because they do not think they will get caught. Even when drivers notice the cameras, some will still speed through yellow lights and end up running red lights unintentionally. While a few might become more cautious near those intersections, the overall impact of the policy is uncertain," Senior John Han said.

Ultimately, the Department of Transportation will compare data from before and after the implementation of the cameras to analyze if there was any significant difference in safety improvement. Time will tell whether this program will really impact driving decisions, but so far, San José has decided to pursue the usage of camera technology to promote safer driving.

About the Contributors

James Tong

opinions & feature U.S. editor

James Tong is a junior at Leland High School and the Opinions and Feature US Page Editor for The Charger Account. He enjoys swimming, biking, drawing, hanging out with friends and following all the latest news in F1.

Isabella Zhu

viewpoint editor

Isabella Zhu is a sophomore at Leland High School and the Viewpoint page editor for The Charger Account. She enjoys reading books and browsing Netflix in her free time.