Two busy West Seattle intersections, and 17 others across the city, will have "red-light" cameras installed this year, Mayor Greg Nickels said last week.

Cameras will show up westbound at Southwest Avalon Way and 35th Avenue Southwest and southbound at 35th and Southwest Thistle Street.

A total of two dozen cameras will be put up to catch irresponsible drivers who run red lights at some of Seattle's most hectic intersections, including several downtown and in north Seattle. It's an expansion of a program the city began a year ago when cameras were installed at four intersections that were considered to have a high level of accidents.

According to a recent report evaluating the one-year, $460,000 pilot project, the city found the frequency of red light running dropped by 50 percent at the intersections where cameras have been installed. The number of accidents and the number of people injured also declined, the mayor's office said.

"There is no excuse for running a red light," Nickels said in a statement. "An instant of recklessness or neglect can take a life or cause serious injury. Expanding this successful program will make our streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers."

The 19 intersections to get cameras this year were selected based on traffic safety as well. Starting in 2008, the fine increases from $101 to $124.

The pilot program was meant to test how well the technology works to reduce deadly "T-Bone" side-impact collisions. Vehicles running red lights typically increase speed and can cause side-door collisions that often result in serious injury and even death.

The city issued 16,539 citations during the pilot, resulting in about $1.1 million in monetary penalties.

Using sensors at these intersections, the digital cameras photograph the license plates of cars running a red light. A police officer reviews each violation and a citation is mailed to the vehicle's registered owner if approved.

The effort is a component of efforts pledged by both the city council and the mayor to make pedestrian safety a priority in Seattle.

"The increased use of red light cameras is intended to make drivers slow down and pay attention, or pay a fine if they don't," said City Council President Nick Licata, who has backed the effort to expand the red light program. "I hope to see the city add more each year until we change our driving behavior."

Rebekah Schilperoort can be reached at 783.1244 or rebekahs@robinsonnews.com