National Stop on Red Week

Most drivers have, at some point in their life, run a red light (maybe two). While to most, it is well known that this is a traffic violation in any state, most dismiss the possibility that it can be a fatal mistake. That’s why the National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR) in addition to many other organizations and communities have come together this National Stop on Red Week to remind all drivers of the dangers of running red lights.

The Go-To Agenda for Stop on Red Week

Stop on Red Week was originally established in 1995 by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as a way to help educate drivers on the risks of running red-lights. The campaign gained national recognition in 1998 when Daimler Chrysler and the American Trauma Society (ATS) joined the team. Today, National Stop on Red Week celebrates by designating every day of this eventful week to a different safety topic. This year:

August 2: The Effects of Red-Light Running

On this day, many websites and social media sites throughout the country presented drivers across the United States with a wide selection of facts pertaining to the dangers of running red lights. Some of the facts outlined were:

• In 2013, an average of 697 people were killed as a result to red-light running.
• In 2013, 127,000 suffered injuries as a result to red-light running.
• The leading cause of vehicle crashes in urban areas is red-light running.

For more information on statistics and facts, you can visit the National Coalition for Safer Roads’ Safety Street blog.

August 3 – Get the Facts

The newest findings and latest trends in red-light running were presented throughout the day. Some facts that were revealed for 2014 data include:

• Throughout the year, over 3.7 million drivers ran a red-light
• 37,800 ran a red light on Memorial Day in 2014
• Friday proved to be the most dangerous day for running a red light

August 4 – The Faces of Red-Light Running

This day is dedicated to the loved ones that were lost in crashes caused by red-light runners. Melissa Wandall lost her husband to a driver that ran a red light two weeks before their daughter was born. Her daughter never met her father. This is just one of the many people that have had to face this tragedy as a result of careless, and sometimes aggressive, drivers.

August 5: Local Statistics of Red-Light Running Fatalities

Sometimes, reading national statistics doesn’t sink in as well as findings based on a person’s local area. That’s why the National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR) provides an interactive map that demonstrates the areas where red-light running fatalities took place. You can search and read information pertaining to your state by visiting the Stop On Red Week page on the NCSR website.

August 6: Top 10 Reasons To Stop On Red

The NCSR lists the top 10 reasons why drivers should always stop on red. Drivers are encouraged to share this information friends and family.

1. Running a red light is not only dangerous to you, but to other drivers as well.
2. An average of 7,799 fatalities took place from 2013 to 2014 as a result of red-light running.
3. The annual cost to Americans for automotive crashes surpasses $230 billion
4. On average, one out of three drivers in the U.S. knows someone who has been injured or killed in a red-light running crash.
5. The leading cause death for children 4 years old is motor vehicle accidents. For children ages 3 and those between 5 to 14, it’s the second leading cause of death.
6. Pedestrians, bicyclists and the passengers in the vehicles hit by a red-light runner account for half of all the deaths.
7. Over 697 people were killed and 127,000 were injured in a crash caused by someone running a red light in 2013.
8. Drivers in metropolitan areas are more likely to be injured or killed in a crash as a result of a red-light runner as opposed to other crash types.
9. Individuals who run red-lights are more than three times as likely to have driving records containing several speeding violations.
10. Today, over 36 percent of all drivers still run red-lights even though 53% of those polled consider it a very serious threat.

August 9: Get Involved & Take the Pledge

Remember that in 2014, Friday seemed to be the most dangerous day in terms of red-light runners so this day is dedicated to getting as many people involved with the cause. To begin helping, you can acquire a downloadable custom National Stop on Red Week button. This button can be shared on your website or used as a profile picture on your favorite social media sites. You can also print it out and attach it to your car, your office desk, or another place where people will see it.

Another way you can help is by sharing facts, statistics, tips, and other information pertaining to red-light running. This will not only spread the message, it’ll also encourage others to get involved.

August 8: What’s Next?

On this day, information about yearly efforts and programs crafted to continuing the cause will be discussed and shared. After National Stop on Red Week has come to a close, the fight is far from over. Residents are encouraged to spread the word about red-light running and practice safe driving habits every day of every year.

Technology Used to Help Decrease Red-Light Running

Red light cameras; police departments love them, drivers (seem to) hate them. Regardless of your opinion of these devices, they are effective in identifying drivers traveling at high speeds and, of course, running red lights. While the use of red light cameras for the purpose of traffic violation identification has come under scrutiny, if a driver does run a red light and depending on the state or city they are in, they may receive a citation mailed to the address where their vehicle is registered. The question remains, can cameras effectively make the road safer?

According to the University of North Carolina, cities that have adopted red-light cameras have seen a major decrease in red-light running and accidents. In fact, red-light violations were reduced by over 70 percent in Charlotte, NC the very first year they were put to use. If your city doesn’t have red-light cameras and you would like them to be implemented, go to one of your city council meetings and demand that that they be installed at key intersections. Americans shouldn’t forget that their collected voices can push changes to be made.

Another way technology is helping reduce red-light running is by the production of more colorful and visible traffic lights.  This includes improving:

• The placement & number of signal heads at intersections
• Increasing signal display size and updating their line of sight

Above all, the crashes that result from running a red-light are best avoided by alert and patient drivers. If you run a red light intentionally thinking the extra minute and a half you can save will help you get to work on time, think also of the possibility that you may not get to work at all. Worse yet, if you run a red light because you are distracted or otherwise inattentive, remember that no task while driving is more important than, you guessed it, driving.