Stop Red Light Running Facts and Statistics
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Intersection safety is a serious problem in the United States, and it is one of the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) top priorities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2005 alone, nearly 9,200 people died and approximately one million people were injured in intersection-related crashes. In addition, approximately 40-45 percent of all crashes occur at intersections or are intersection-related. According to 2005 data from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, crashes caused by red light running (RLR) resulted in an estimated 805 fatalities.
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Red light cameras are used for law enforcement in New York City; Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco, California; Washington, D.C.; Denver, Colorado; Baltimore, Maryland; Phoenix, Arizona; Chicago, Illinois; Portland, Oregon; and Charlotte, North Carolina, in addition to many smaller communities. For a complete list, see http://www.iihs.org/research/topics/rlc_cities.html
- For information on automated enforcement laws in each state see: http://www.iihs.org/laws/state_laws/auto_enforce.html
- Engineering countermeasures that we consider useful include improving signal visibility (placement and number of signal heads, size of signal display, line of sight), improving signal conspicuity (redundancy, light emitting diode signal lenses, backplates, strobe lights), increasing the likelihood of stopping (signal ahead signs, advanced warning flashers, rumble strips, left-turn signal signs and pavement condition), addressing intentional violations (traffic signal optimization, change in cycle lengths, change in timing of yellow and red intervals, and dilemma zone protection), and eliminating the need to stop (remove unwarranted signals, change to flashing mode operation or convert intersections to roundabouts).
