Running red lights has now been identified as a major traffic safety issue in
most communities in the United States. With the advent of technology that can
capture red light runners on camera and automatically send a ticket to the owner
of the vehicle, police departments and city administrators are starting to tackle
the problem head on. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has documented
growing acceptance of the use of red light cameras as a means of cracking down
on this behavior.
http://www.highwaysafety.org/news_releases/2001/pr042601.htm
Some of the many local programs to combat red light running include Howard
County, Maryland and the city of Phoenix, Arizona.
http://www.co.ho.md.us/redltech.htm
http://www.ci.phoenix.az.us/TRAFFIC/redlight.html
If you know that your community has a particular problem with red light running
causing collisions with bicycles, you may be able help institute a red light
camera program, or prioritize the use of the cameras on those intersections
with a high incidence of bicycle crashes.
The Federal Highway Administration provides a national focus for efforts to
stop red light running.
FHWA's Red Light Running campaign general information: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/srlr.htm
Links to additional red light running resources: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/fourthlevel/pro_res_srlr_links.htm#link
Link to a PowerPoint Presentation on RLR: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/fourthlevel/srlr_eng_chall.htm
