Fresno is changing how it watches its most dangerous intersections. On May 21, 2026, the Fresno City Council adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan and moved forward with a three-year pilot program to bring automated red light cameras back to city streets. For anyone who drives, walks, or bikes through Fresno, the change is worth understanding, especially if you are ever hurt at an intersection.
Why Fresno Is Acting Now
The numbers behind the decision are sobering. According to the city, Fresno saw 217 fatal crashes and 629 severe injury crashes between 2019 and 2023. City engineers also found that 89 percent of all fatal and severe injury crashes happen on just 14 percent of the road network, which is why officials are focusing cameras and safety upgrades on a short list of corridors. A 2025 Smart Growth America report placed the Fresno metro seventh in the nation for traffic danger.
You can read the local coverage of the council’s plan here.
Where the Cameras and the Crashes Are
City staff identified several intersections and corridors for early attention, including:
- Shields and First avenues
- Clinton Avenue and Fresno Street
- Clinton and Van Ness avenues
- Blackstone Avenue from Nees to Herndon avenues
- Blackstone Avenue from Ashlan to Shields avenues
Blackstone and Shaw avenues have long been among the deadliest streets in the city for people walking. If you regularly travel these corridors, extra caution at the signal is worth it, both to stay safe and to avoid a citation once cameras go live.
How Red Light Camera Evidence Fits Into an Injury Claim
Under the state framework the council is using, red light camera fines are capped, starting at $100 and rising toward $500 for repeat violations, with a $25 fee to appeal. A traffic ticket is a separate matter from a civil injury claim, but the camera footage itself can matter a great deal after a crash.
Automated intersection cameras capture the seconds before and during a collision. That video can help show which driver entered on red, how fast a vehicle was moving, and where each person was in the crosswalk. When another driver runs a light and injures you, that footage can help document what happened and support your account of the crash. The catch is that camera video is often overwritten within days, so it helps to act quickly.
What to Do If You Are Hurt in a Fresno Intersection Crash
If you are injured at an intersection anywhere in Fresno, a few early steps can protect both your health and your claim:
- Call 911 and accept medical attention at the scene, even if you feel okay.
- Photograph the vehicles, the traffic signals, skid marks, and your injuries.
- Get names, phone numbers, and insurance details for every driver and any witnesses.
- Look for nearby cameras, including red light cameras, business security cameras, and doorbell cameras.
- Ask how to obtain the police report and write down the responding officer’s name and badge number.
- See a doctor within a day or two, since some injuries surface later.
- Talk to a lawyer before giving a recorded statement to any insurance company.
That last point matters. Insurers often call within hours, and an early recorded statement can be used to reduce or deny a claim before you even know the full extent of your injuries.
How a Fresno Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
Intersection crashes often come down to who had the light, and that is exactly where evidence goes stale fastest. An experienced attorney can move quickly to preserve camera footage, gather signal timing records, interview witnesses, and document your medical care so your account is supported by real evidence rather than the other driver’s version alone.
NMF Law Group focuses on personal injury and handles car accident claims across the Central Valley. If you were hurt in a crash in Fresno, our Fresno car accident lawyers can review what happened and explain your options. We work on a contingency basis, which means no attorney’s fees unless we win.
Fresno’s new cameras are meant to make intersections safer over time. Until they do, knowing what to do in the moments after a crash remains your best protection.