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The City of Hazelwood is reminding drivers to “Stop on Red” during National Stop on Red Week 2009, scheduled for August 2-8.

Photo enforcement equipment is being used by the Hazelwood Police Department to catch red-light runners. Sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, National Stop on Red Week 2009 is aimed at reducing the incidence of red light running in the United States, and the fatalities and injuries it causes. This campaign has pulled together a team of leaders from the fields of law enforcement, traffic safety, transportation engineering and healthcare to tackle this crucial public safety issue. Their goal is to better inform the public and their elected officials about the seriousness of this all-too-common danger, as well as the law enforcement practices and tools that can make our roadways safer.

“Safety is the responsibility of every driver, not just during National Stop on Red Week, but every day and each time someone gets behind the steering wheel of a vehicle,” said Chief of Police Carl Wolf, Hazelwood Police Department.

In June 2006, the Hazelwood City Council passed an ordinance titled, “Violation of Public Safety at Intersections and the Automated Photo Enforcement of Traffic Control Signal Regulations,” which authorized the placement and enforcement of red light cameras to improve public safety. Since then, the City has installed 14 red light traffic cameras at various locations within the community. Results of the program’s first year showed a 53 percent reduction in red light violations at key stoplight intersections where red light traffic cameras were installed.

Here are the “Top 10” reasons to Stop on Red: (Source: Insurance Institute of Highway Safety)

10. In 2006, almost 900 people were killed and an estimated 144,000 injured in crashes that involved red-light running.

9. About half of the deaths in red-light running crashes are pedestrians and occupants in other vehicles who are hit by the red-light runners.

8. The T-bone intersection crashes caused by red-light runners create the most severe injuries.

7. A 2005 review of red-light camera studies around the world concluded that cameras Reduce red-light violations by 40-50 percent and reduce injury crashes by 25-30 percent.

6. Motorists are more likely to be injured in urban crashes involving red-light running than in any other types of urban crashes.

5. An analysis of red-light violation data from 19 intersections in four states found that 1,775 violations occurred over 554 hours, for a rate of 3.2 violations an hour.

4. Red-light runners are more than three times as likely to have multiple speeding convictions on their driver records.

3. Occupant injuries occurred in 45 percent of red-light running crashes, compared with 30 percent of other crash types.

2. Of 13 crash types identified, running traffic controls accounted for 22 percent of all crashes.

1. Red-light running is dangerous.

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