The kamaaina driver in Hawaii cringes at the memory of “van cams,” the mobile units dispatched 15 years ago for photo-enforcement of speeding laws.

Operated by a private company, the automated cameras soon generated many citations — and a firestorm of protest from motorists dismayed by the unforgiving process. Many resented the employment of a private contractor to collect the photos and the steep fines.

That recollection haunts the consideration of a new bill that would establish a network of mounted cameras for traffic enforcement. They would snap photos of license plates within an intersection once the traffic signal flashes red.

The measure, Senate Bill 221, ultimately may prove more workable than the van cam law and should be given more time for lawmakers to discuss all aspects fully.

The bottom line is that fewer right-angle collisions result at camera-equipped intersections, according to research by the Federal Highway Administration. These accidents produce the most fatalities and serious injuries when a motorist runs a red light and crashes into cross traffic.

Advocates acknowledge that statistics also show an increase in rear-end collisions — cars stopping short of entering the intersection. But far fewer deaths and injuries result, so the net safety improvement is worth pursuing.

If it is passed by the Ways and Means Committee and the Senate as it should be, the measure will proceed to the House, where Speaker Joe Souki seems amenable to giving it a robust hearing.

Specifically, SB 221 would allow Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii and Kauai counties to set up the “photo red-light imaging detector systems.” Revenue garnered by the citations would be deposited in a single general fund, but each county could draw the funds collected within that county.

Red-light cameras can be seen as a fairer system than van cams, which could be hidden at various points on a route. Drivers at least are forewarned that many intersections will be equipped with the cameras. The passage of the bill would need to be followed with an extensive public education program.

There are shortcomings of red-light systems, of course. One is that the registered owner of the car would get the citation in the mail, regardless of who was driving the car.

As in the case of a police-issued citations, there are procedures for contesting the ticket if, for example, the registered owner was not behind the wheel. This would involve court appearance to counter the citation with testimony and evidence.

That presents difficulty and cost, with the likelihood of many court challenges. Some jurisdictions have abandoned their red-light programs because the full cost of enforcement and prosecution can sap the county revenue citations yield.

But although boosting the county budget is one objective of the program, it’s far from the primary one: curbing the number of traffic fatalities arising from drivers running red lights.

The Governors Highway Safety Association indicates there are 24 states, as well as the District of Columbia, that deploy red-light enforcement cameras.

If Hawaii does join the roster, lawmakers must refine the rules to ensure that there is as little room for argument as possible. The photo should be triggered by the red light flashing on, a clear-cut boundary.

The yellow-light period should be regulated and consistent; unwarranted shortening of the yellow warning period can lead to justifiable complaints.

Being in the intersection when the red light flashes is what triggers the violation, but motorists should be made aware that entering the intersection on yellow is risky. In most cases, there is time to cross the intersection safely on yellow, but not always, especially if traffic unexpectedly slows on the other side.

On the opposite side of the issue is the Office of the Public Defender, which argues that the driver of the vehicle should be identified. The office also noted that the primary beneficiary would be the private vendor providing the service — a point worth making. Souki already has argued that government needs to be in charge of the operation for this reason.

However, those arguing that this is merely a way to bank revenue for the counties are missing the point. Heavy fines can deter bad driving behavior, and the record of Hawaii drivers running red lights is appalling.

The Senate panels dealing with transportation and public safety had it right in their committee report, stating that “the prevalence of drivers violating Hawaii’s traffic laws, especially on the island of Oahu, has become intolerable, particularly drivers who run red lights.”

The system should run for an appropriate test period, followed by a mandatory legislative review.

Even so, if this experiment reduces the shameful level of traffic fatalities and injuries in this state, it will be a worthwhile test to run.