New York City has completed the expansion of its red-light camera programme to 600 intersections across the five boroughs, reaching the maximum number currently permitted under state law.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the New York City Department of Transportation announced the completion on Oct. 21, as part of efforts to reduce dangerous driving and prevent traffic-related injuries and deaths.
The cameras target intersections with histories of serious collisions and injuries caused by motorists running red lights. Department data show that running red lights was a factor in 22% of fatal intersection crashes from 2023 to 2025.
“Safer streets aren’t a guessing game — we know the tools proven to keep New Yorkers safe. Red light cameras help us get home safely by holding dangerous drivers accountable and preventing crashes before they happen,” said Mayor Mamdani. “With all 600 intersections up and running, we are stopping dangerous behavior before tragedy can strike and making our streets safer for everyone who walks, bikes, drives or takes the bus.”
At camera-equipped intersections, red-light running has declined by more than 80%. Injuries from rear-end collisions have fallen by nearly 60%, while injuries from T-bone crashes have decreased by 70% since installation.
The expansion is part of New York City’s broader Vision Zero strategy to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries through enforcement and safer street design. For Brooklyn residents, the programme is relevant to neighbourhoods where pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and public transport users share busy roads.
However, borough-specific figures for the latest camera installations and their safety effects were not provided in the announcement.
The programme combines automated enforcement with data-driven camera placement, prioritising intersections with records of dangerous crashes. In 2025, 95% of vehicles cited for running red lights received no more than one or two violations, while fewer than 0.7% received five or more. About 39% of violations involved vehicles registered outside New York City.
With the 600-intersection limit reached, further expansion depends on state legislative action.
Transportation Alternatives, a street-safety advocacy organisation, is calling for lawmakers to reauthorize and expand the programme during the 2027 legislative session. Additional cameras would require state approval, while the city’s broader street-safety efforts continue across the five boroughs.
