Is Technology The Solution To Red Light Running?
Red Light Runners Watch Out
According to an article in the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, as of this past Tuesday night the city of Millington has become the latest Tennessee city to approve using Red Light Cameras (RLC) to help reduce intersection accidents.
Intersection and intersection-related crashes consistently make up a high proportion of total fatal crashes, up to 23 percent. More than 50 percent of the combined fatal and injury crashes occur at intersections. 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 which account for approximately 40-45 percent of all crashes. According to 2005 data from NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, crashes caused by red light running (RLR) resulted in an estimated 805 fatalities.
Based on national data, the typical red light runner (RLR) is younger, is driving alone, has no children, and is in a rush to work or school in the morning hours on weekdays. If a parent, the RLR most likely has children less than 20-years-old, is employed in jobs requiring less education (i.e., blue collar, lower technology), or is unemployed. The RLR is more than two miles from home and is more likely to have been ticketed for red light running in the past. RLR is a dangerous form of aggressive driving. Based on self-reported behavioral surveys, RLR is a result of people wanting to save time. However, several factors can lead to RLR such as impatient and inattentive drivers, improperly timed traffic signals, lack of enforcement efforts and the attitude that no harm will come from running a red light.
Additional Program Efforts
In addition to the RLCs the city should also hold press conferences to announce the RLC program and educate drivers on the statistics of injuries and deaths due to RLR and speeding. Accompanying the public announcement they should encourage radio and TV stations to warn people of the danger of RLR and educate them on the new RLC system. Radio stations can do live broadcasts from high-crash intersections in town. Stations can give away promotional items in support of the goal of reducing injuries and deaths at intersections. Strict and effective enforcement by local police at all intersections would also help solve this problem.
Pedestrian safety is also an important issue related to intersection crashes. Approximately one out of five accidents at signalized intersections involve a turning vehicle hitting a pedestrian. The split between left-turning and right-turning accidents is about 60/40. Furthermore, the proportion of accidents involving pedestrians and left-turning vehicles varies from 17 to 32 percent of all pedestrian accidents at the intersection. Thus, left-turning movements at signalized intersections represent a considerable safety problem to pedestrians.
In Millington there was one dissenting Alderman who says he is not convinced that the data shows that the cameras are effective. Economic analysis showed that RLCs saved society $39,000 to $50,000 annually at each intersection where they are installed. (The costs considered include: hospital bills, property damage to vehicles, insurance expenses, value of lost quality of life, and other costs.) Analysis of data in the most comprehensive study to date (Safety Evaluation of Red-Light Cameras (FHWA-HRT-05-048, April 2005)) from seven jurisdictions (Baltimore; Charlotte; El Cajon, CA; Howard County, MD; Montgomery County, MD; San Diego; San Francisco) at 132 intersections using RLCs found:
* 25% decrease of total right-angle crashes
* 16% decrease of injury right-angle crashes
* 15% increase of total rear-end crashes
* 24% increase of injury rear-end crashes
If you or a loved one is injured in a Nashville intersection collision contact our experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies. We offer a free consultation to victims of Tennessee automobile accidents as well as the families of the victims.
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