LAKELAND, Fla. — The Lakeland Police Department is stepping up efforts to curb crashes on city roads.
The police department recently released a video showing some of the most dangerous red-light violations caught on camera over the last few months.
Watch report from Rebecca Petit
You can see drivers speeding through intersections long after lights have turned red, narrowly missing other vehicles and bicyclists. While the footage is unsettling, it is not surprising to Vivian Woodhouse.
“I have been hit by a vehicle that did run a red light,” said Woodhouse.
She said that the crash could have changed her and her daughter’s lives forever.
“Because I was seven months pregnant with my youngest daughter, but I checked out fine. No injuries, I was extremely lucky,” said Woodhouse.
It’s the decision to speed up rather than stop that Lakeland police said they are trying to prevent. The city currently has 23 red-light cameras watching busy intersections, and four more are being added.
“I think they’re distracted by their telephones, all types of reasons. So, I think one time being stopped by a camera and having to pay for the ticket, you’ll think twice next time you go to run a red light,” said Woodhouse.
Last year, fifteen people were killed in traffic homicides in Lakeland.
“We’re trying to reduce by 2040, using the Vision Zero program to reduce traffic fatalities in the City of Lakeland to zero by 2040,” said Sgt. Chad Mumbauer.
Data shows the cameras are helping slow people down and making intersections safer.
“Nine out of 10 people that get a red-light camera violation do not get another one. So we think that’s very important and it shows that it is having an effect on driving behavior,” said Mumbauer.
The police department’s goal is to reduce red-light violations, crashes, and ultimately save lives.
The red-light camera intersections:
New locations added in 2026
- Memorial Boulevard at Brunnell Parkway.
- Florida Avenue at George Jenkins Boulevard.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue at George Jenkins Boulevard.
- Memorial Boulevard at Florida Avenue.
- Bartow Road/U.S. 98 at New Jersey Road.
- Bartow Road/U.S. 98 at East Orange Street.
- Kathleen Road at 14th Street.
- Massachusetts Avenue at Parker Street
Current locations
- NB N Florida Ave at Memorial Blvd
- NB/SB Cleveland Heights Blvd at E Edgewood Dr
- NB/SB Socrum Lp Rd at Old Combee Rd
- NB/SB Socrum Lp Rd at E Daughtery Rd / Walt Lp Rd
- WB E Daughtery Rd / Walt Lp Rd at Socrum Lp Rd
- NB/SB Bartow Rd / US 98 at N Crystal Lk
- EB/WB E Memorial Blvd at N Massachusetts Ave
- NB/SB US 98 at Griffin Rd
- SB Harden Blvd at North Parkway Frontage Rd
- NB Harden Blvd at W Beacon Rd
- WB W Memorial Blvd at Martin L King Jr Ave
- WB George Jenkins at Kathleen Rd
- SB N Florida Ave at E Parker St
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