Groundswell of Concern for Dangers of Red Light Running Focuses on National Stop on Red Week

      New Campaign Brings Top Experts Together to Fight Deadly Behavior

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 Because a growing number of Americans
-- approximately 250 per day -- are killed or injured by red light runners,
more and more communities are moving aggressively against this behavior.
    
To support their efforts, the National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running
(SRLR), an independent advocacy initiative targeting both the national and
grassroots levels, joins other traffic safety groups in celebrating the fifth
annual National Stop on Red Week.  National Stop on Red Week, September 1-7,
2001, is designed to raise awareness of the growing phenomenon of red light
running, its consequences, and ways to combat the problem.
    
"There is a great deal of well-justified concern for this problem around
the nation," said Judith Lee Stone, president of Advocates for Highway and
Auto Safety.  "Studies have shown that red light running is one of the most
frequent and unpunished traffic offenses, occurring as frequently as once
every five minutes at some intersections."
    
Red light running is a national traffic safety problem with deadly
consequences.  According to the American Trauma Society, in 1999, 90,000
injuries and approximately 950 deaths in the U.S. were attributed to red light
running.  Between 1992 and 1998, fatal motor vehicle crashes at traffic
signals increased 18 percent, outpacing the six percent rise in all other
fatal crashes. Public costs exceed $7 billion per year.
    
The National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running was created in response to
a groundswell of concern from many areas of the country struggling to reverse
this disturbing trend.  The goal of the Campaign is to reduce the incidence of
red light running in the United States and the fatalities and injuries it
causes.  The Campaign is guided by a national advisory board that includes
Barbara Harsha, executive director, National Association of Governors' Highway
Safety Representative; Millie I. Webb, national president, Mothers Against
Drunk Driving (MADD); Brian O'Neil, president, Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety; Harry Teter, executive director, American Trauma Society, and Ms.
Stone.
    
"The problem of red light running needs to be addressed through public
awareness and public policy change," said Ms. Stone. "Increased enforcement
and technology such as red light cameras can make a big difference in
deterring this deadly behavior."
    
Red light cameras are a low-cost common sense way to prevent the numerous
yearly deaths and injuries resulting from red light violations. The cameras
are operational in eleven states and abroad. A recent in-depth study in
Oxnard, California found a 42% reduction in red light violations at
intersections equipped with this technology. By overwhelming majorities,
Americans want cameras to protect their intersections.  In a recent survey,
Americans nationwide favored red light cameras by a 3:1 margin.