Red Light Running Is it Your Fault or Theirs

1
Common Sense Solutions for Intersection Safety
Problems

• Red Light Running Is it Your Fault or Theirs?

2
Education Goals

• Understand the factors that contribute to red
  light running.
• Understand the differences between unintentional
  and intentional red light running violations.
• Understand countermeasures that can be used to
  correct intentional and unintentional red light
  running violations.

3
What is Red Light Running?
4
What is Red Light Running?
5
Red Light Running Resources

• Institute of Traffic Engineers (ITE)
• FHWA Web site http//safety.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/
  srlr.htm

6
Red Light Running Statistics

• In urban areas RLR are the most common crash type
  
• (about 20 of crashes at signalized urban
  intersections)
• Violation frequencies range 1 per 9 hr. to 1 per
  3.5 min.
• Nationally 46 of RLR crashes result in injury
• Signalized intersection fatalities 40 RLR
  related
• Economic impact of RLR estimated at 14 billion
  annually

7
Who is the Typical Red Light Runner?

• Old Dominion University Study
• Younger drivers
• People without children
• Alone in the car
• Employed in less skilled jobs or unemployed
• Rushing to school or work during the week day
• More likely to have had a prior RLR offense

8
Factors Contributing to RLR

• Traffic volume
• more vehicles more RLR
• Frequency of signal cycles
• more cycles more RLR
• Driver following distance
• more tailgating more RLR
• Approach grade
• steeper approach more RLR
• Yellow interval length
• too short or too long more RLR
• Poorly coordinated signals
• more driver frustration more RLR

9
Root Causes of RLR

• Unintentional Violations
• Didnt see the signal
• Misidentified the signal color
• Couldnt stop in time
• Confusion over the signal indication
• Intentional Violations
• Tried to beat the yellow
• Intentional disregard of signal

10
RLR Countermeasures Unintentional Violation

• Improve Signal Visibility
• Line of sight
• Number of signal heads
• LED lamps
• Size and number of signal lenses
• Backer plates and visors

11
Multiple Signal Heads
Photo By Mark ONiel
12
Larger Red Lens
13
Multiple Signal Lenses
14
Signal Visors
15
Backer Plates
16
RLR CountermeasuresUnintentional Violation

• Improve Stopping Conditions
• Reduce approach grade
• Improve pavement surface condition
• Remove the need to stop
• Advanced warning signs / flashing beacons
• In-lane rumble strips on the approach

17
Advanced Warning Signs
18
In-Lane Rumble Strips
19
RLR CountermeasuresIntentional Violation

• Signal Timing Improvements
• Signal coordination
• Signal cycle length
• Yellow phase
• Education
• Training, public outreach
• Enforcement
• Indicator lights
• Team enforcement approach
• Automated cameras

20
Automated Camera Enforcement
21
Reduction In RLR ViolationsAfter Camera
Installation
22
Reduction In CrashesAfter RLR Cameras
Installation
70
42
37
32
30
Right angle
Right angle
City wide
RLR
RLR
Charlotte
Oxnard
Baltimore
Howard County
LA Rail
23
Issues With Automated Enforcement Cameras

• Positive
• Low cost per ticket ratio
• No officer exposure
• Have high conviction and ticket payment rates
• Shown to reduce RLR incidences
• Negative
• Opposed by privacy advocacy groups
• Not currently legal in many states
• Can be viewed as a revenue generator

24
Just for Fun
25
Ask Questions, Get Answers
An intellectual is a man who takes more words
than necessary to tell more than he knows.
Dwight D. Eisenhower