HARTFORD, Conn. — Each year in the United States, drivers running red lights cause more than 1,000 fatalities, according to a release from AAA, the American Automobile Association.
More than half of the lives lost aren’t the offending driver, so AAA is taking the initiative to advise drivers that running red lights and ignoring traffic signals can have deadly consequences.
To further drive the point home, AAA is recognizing National Stop on Red Week from Aug. 4-10. Drivers are encouraged to follow instructions not just for their own safety but for the safety of others.
Tracy Noble, spokesperson for AAA Club Alliance, said in the release that drivers who choose to run red lights when they could have stopped safely put the lives of other drivers and pedestrians in direct danger.
“It’s critical that all road users understand this increased risk and adjust their own behaviors accordingly. While you can’t control the bad driving habits of others, there are precautions you can take to minimize your own risk,” Noble said in the release.
A 2019 AAA Foundation for Traffic Study noted that red-light running fatalities reached a 10-year high of 939 lives lost in 2017, according to AAA. The numbers dropped slightly as fewer drivers used the roads during the pandemic, but the statistics are on the rise once again in recent years.
A report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS, said that in 2022, 1,149 people were killed and over 100,000 were injured in crashes that involved red-light running, which represents a 4% increase from 2021 and a jump of over 22% compared to 2017. AAA said that at least half of those killed were passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists or people in other vehicles.
According to the IIHS, in 2022, red-light runners involved in fatal, multi-vehicle crashes in 2022 were more likely than other drivers to be male, to be younger and to have prior crashes or alcohol-impaired driving convictions.
“They were also more likely to be speeding or alcohol-impaired at the time of the crash and less likely to have a valid driver’s license,” the AAA release said.
In Connecticut, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveals that red-light running related traffic crash deaths rose 100% during the five-year period ending in 2022. In 2018, there were three fatalities, and in 2022, there were six deaths.
“In total, 25 people died in Connecticut during the time period in red-light running related crashes,” according to the AAA release citing NHTSA statistics.
The release said that, according to the AAA Foundation Traffic Safety Culture Index, drivers may be aware of the risks of red-light running but simply refuse to believe that the risks will catch up to them. Over 83% of those surveyed believe red-light running is at least very dangerous, but 25% of them admitted to running a red light in the previous 30 days.
According to AAA, enforcement is the best way to make drivers comply with any law, but it is impossible for police to be at every intersection, so communities are finding other measures to fill the void.
Studies have proven that increasing yellow-light timing to values recommended by the Institute of Transportation Engineers can decrease the amount of red-light violations and lessen the risk of crashes, according to IIHS.
“But adjusting yellow signal time alone may not be enough to significantly reduce red-light running crashes,” the release said. “An IIHS study conducted in Philadelphia found that while longer yellow (lights) reduced red light violations by 36%, adding camera enforcement further cut red-light running by an additional 96%.”
AAA said that IIHS research shows that cameras lessen the fatal red-light running crash rate in large cities by 21%, and the rate of all type of fatal crashes at signalized intersections is reduced by 14%. It adds that well-publicized camera programs discourage “would-be violators” who may be less willing to risk a citation than they were to “risk a life.”
“AAA, IIHS and other traffic safety advocates have developed an automated enforcement program checklist for communities to follow when implementing a camera program,” the AAA release said. “Among the recommendations are that camera programs be utilized as one component of a more comprehensive traffic safety program and that they target roadways with a demonstrated pattern of violations or crashes.”
Drivers should be notified of camera use through signage, education and other means. Cameras should also be calibrated on a regular basis and only used under the direct supervision of law enforcement. Results should be evaluated regularly to ensure safety benefits are occurring, AAA said.
In the release, AAA lists several tips to curb the ongoing spike in red-light running crashes.
First, limit distractions such as texting or dialing on a phone, even if it’s hands-free, as it can linger with a driver for up to 27 seconds afterwards, the release said.
Another tip featured in the release involves driving defensively and looking both ways before advancing through an intersection after a light has turned green. Don’t assume all drivers are obeying the red light.
Be prepared to stop as well. Take your foot off the accelerator, cover the brake and be ready whenever entering an intersection even if the light is green.
Also, use good judgement and be aware of green lights that seem to go on forever.
“Monitor ‘stale’ green lights – those that have been green a long time – as you approach the intersection. They are more likely to turn yellow by the time you arrive at the intersection, so anticipate the need to make a safe stop,” the AAA release said.
Additionally, one can tap the brakes several times before applying them to slow down, which will help catch the attention of drivers behind you who aren’t paying attention.
AAA offers further advice for pedestrians and cyclists to stay safe when traveling near intersections.
“Wait and give yourself a few seconds to make sure all cars have come to a complete stop before moving through the intersection. Look for turning traffic that may be less likely to see you,” AAA said. “Stay alert and listen. Don’t take chances and don’t wear headphones. Watch what is going on and give your full attention to the environment around you.”
Lastly, be visible, stay in well-lit areas, especially when crossing the street, make eye contact and look at drivers in stopped vehicles to make sure they see you before crossing the road in front of them.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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