RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A bill has been introduced to the Virginia General Assembly in hopes to allow the placement of speed cameras — by ordinance “in any location deemed necessary by the locality.”
The proposed legislation was introduced by Democratic Delegate Michael Jones of the 77th District, who told 8News the bill would seek to also focus on speeding in high injury networks of the Commonwealth.
“We’ve got to place [speed cameras] in high injury network areas where we have seen by data and where it is supported by science,” Jones said. “This is where speeding happens, these are the areas in which individuals are injured or property damage or whatever…not just one fatality.”
According to the Vision Zero Network, high injury networks are where high numbers of people are killed and severe injuries in traffic crashes occur.
Vision Zero is a global strategy aimed at eliminating all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, with the goal of changing the mindset that these incidents are inevitable, when instead they are preventable.
Jones told 8News he has received concerns from both the community and those on both sides of the General Assembly with questions about where the speed cameras will be placed, and if this a money incentive for localities or a specific initiative for neighborhoods of color.
“The answer to really most of those, if not all of those questions is, no,” Jones said. “At least if we did this in Richmond, based upon the information that we’ve collected within Parks and Department of Public Works, it would focus on the high injury network, and that would be your Midlothian Turnpike, Hull Street, Chamber Avenue, Richmond Highway, because that’s where we see a lot of the accidents are resulting from speed.”
8News traveled to various areas and spoke with parents and community members who opted to speak their opinions off camera. Some said they thought a ticket in the mail could change the speeding issue, while others did not believe speed cameras alone could stop the problem.
Parents at the Westover Hills Elementary playground also shared their opinions about speeding issues in the area, which prompted 8News to reach out to Richmond City School Board member Jonathan Young, who represents the school as part of the fourth district.
“We have had entirely way too many calls in Richmond Public Schools. I’ve seen it, I’ve experienced it. People not paying attention…I swear sometimes I think they’re sometimes going twice the speed limit,” Young said. “These speed cameras will be an invaluable asset as it relates to protecting our students, and not just our students, but our parents and our teachers.”
In 2020, Governor Glenn Youngkin signed House Bill 1442 into law allowing for speed cameras to be placed in school and highway work zones.
In October 2023, speed cameras were installed in Petersburg on Johnson Road near Petersburg High School and on Washington Street near Appomattox Regional Governor’s School.
In November 2023, the City of Richmond announced Linwood Holton Elementary School and Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts would be receiving speed cameras as well.
On Jan. 18, 2024, Jones’ proposed legislation moved to the Transportation Subcommittee of the Virginia General Assembly under Innovations.
