The City of Thomasville will officially discontinue the use of RedSpeed speed detection cameras by the start of the upcoming school year. The decision follows an in-depth review of the program’s effectiveness and the City’s continued commitment to improving safety for students in designated school zones.
Implemented as a safety initiative to reduce speeding in high-traffic areas around local schools, the RedSpeed program was intended to encourage safer driving behavior, not generate revenue; however, after observing continued speeding violations and repeat offenders at camera locations, the Thomasville Police Department noted that the camera system was not effectively changing driver habits.
“Despite the warnings and citations issued through this system, we simply weren’t seeing the changes we hoped for,” said Thomasville Police Chief Wade Glover. “Our goal has always been to protect our students. If something isn’t working, we owe it to our community to seek out what does.”
In 2024, the Thomasville Police Department began exploring additional ways to enhance school zone safety. New safety measures included “Slow School Zone” messages painted in school zones and digital speed detection signs, designed to give drivers immediate visual feedback about their speed as they enter school zones. These measures were implemented to better alert drivers of their surroundings and reinforce safe driving habits.
The results were immediate and encouraging. The City recorded a 40% decrease in speeding violations after these new improvements were introduced, demonstrating a stronger impact on driver behavior than the speed camera system.
Based on these findings, the decision was made by the Thomasville City Council to terminate the RedSpeed contract and focus on other safety enhancements for the 2025–2026 school year, including increased police officer presence during peak travel hours and during school drop off and pick up times. While the cameras will no longer be active, the Thomasville Police Department will continue to enforce speed safety through traditional radar devices.
“Safety is and will always be our top priority,” added Chief Glover. “We ask all motorists to remain vigilant, obey posted speed limits, and stay alert, especially when traveling through school zones.”
The City of Thomasville remains committed to evaluating and adjusting traffic safety strategies to ensure the well-being of all citizens. For more information, contact the City of Thomasville at (229) 227-7001.