Speed cameras line northern Loop 101

The Arizona Department of Public Safety is installing three speed cameras on Loop 101 near 75th, 59th and 35th avenues.

This continues the DPS effort to slow motorists, cut down on accidents and reduce the severity of crashes that occur.

The installation is part of a nine-camera project that will include other locations on the Loop 101 in the West Valley. All cameras will be operational by Oct. 22, said DPS Lt. James Warriner.

Other locations include the Loop 101 southbound at Bethany Home, Indian School and McDowell Roads and I-10 at 287th Avenue, Miller Road and Watson Road.

DPS has not announced how long the cameras will be operational.

"We were able to show that (the cameras) reduced speeds by almost 10 mph. Collisions alone, along with injuries, were reduced 41 to 53 percent," Warriner said. "We've seen a huge decrease in the seriousness of injuries and numbers of collisions in general."

The cameras, which will photograph motorists traveling 10 mph or more faster than the posted 65 mph speed limit, are designed to curb speeding and dangerous driving in those areas, among the most dangerous along the freeway, he said.

"(Those three locations) meet the criteria we've established (to warrant) cameras," Warriner said. "We're looking at areas where we can show there's a large number of serious injury-fatal collisions, areas that are approaching freeway junction areas (and) areas of construction."

"Our goal is to try to get traffic to slow down in those areas to allow the motoring public to merge or transition from one freeway to another without injury or collisions."

Warriner said DPS researched the use of speed cameras in Scottsdale along stretches of Loop 101 before determining whether to use the cameras in Glendale.

Warriner said DPS hopes the cameras, which will target motorists traveling eastbound on the freeway, will decrease accidents in Glendale.

"We have a lot of serious injury collisions in that region especially during rush hour. We're trying to get the motoring public to slow down and be aware," he said.

"Our whole focus with this project is public safety. We're trying to make our freeway system safer," Warriner said

Unlike other speed camera programs where motorists are given a grace period before actual citations are issued, Warriner said these cameras will begin targeting speeding drivers as soon as they are operational.

"The speeds are very clearly posted and have been for years," he said. "When they're up, they're running. When they go live, they go live."

Depending on the success of this nine-camera project, Warriner said other locations in Glendale may receive cameras.

"This is only the beginning," he said.