Salem to add speed cameras at 2 high-volume intersections. Here's where

Salem is expanding its speed camera program to include two high-volume intersections starting Monday.

Salem Police officials said the changes are being made due to safety.

With 14 traffic fatalities so far in 2024, Salem has already surpassed the number of deaths in all of 2023 and is on track for a record-breaking year.

“Our digital red light and speed enforcement programs are important tools to change driver behavior and make our streets safer,” said Salem Police Deputy Chief Treven Upkes of the Field Operations Division. “Preventing collisions and other consequences due to speed is essential to keep Salem streets safe for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.”

Four intersections currently have red light and speed enforcement cameras:

• Silverton at Fisher Road NE
• Center Street at Hawthorne Avenue NE
• Commercial Street at Madrona Avenue SE
• Commercial Street at Kuebler Boulevard SE

The technology to detect speed violations was implemented over time, starting at Silverton Road in 2019. Three more locations were added to the system in 2020.

Starting Monday, speed detection will be added to Mission at 25th Street SE and Commercial at Marion Street NE, two intersections shared with the Oregon Department of Transportation due to their designation as state highways.

Even though the city has experienced an overall increase in traffic volume since the enforcement program was implemented in 2008, data from the current camera sites show a steady decrease in crashes and citations issued.

Each location has four cameras connected to the traffic signal, automatically detecting whether the vehicle stops for the red light or exceeds the posted speed limit.

Police staff verifies a recording of any violation detected by the system before a citation is mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner.

Between July 1 and July 31, the system will only issue warnings to drivers who violate the speed rule through those intersections. Oregon law dictates that citations will be issued for drivers whose speed is 11 mph over the speed limit while traveling through an intersection on a green light.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on X at @wmwoodworth