Page 32 - AAA Magazine – AAA Ohio Auto Club – November 2019

Red-light Running Deaths Hit 10-Year High
New AAA Foundation data analysis finds more than two people are killed every day in red-light running crashes, including drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists.
More than two people are killed every day on U.S. roads by drivers running red lights, according to a new data analysis performed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The most recent crash data available shows 939 people were killed in red-light running crashes in 2017 – a 10-year high and a 28% increase since 2012. With the number of red-light running crashes on the rise, AAA calls for drivers to use caution when approaching signalized intersections, and for pedestrians and cyclists to stay alert when crossing the street.
According to the AAA Foundation:
• 28% of crash deaths that occur at signalized intersections are the result of a driver running through a red light.
• Per capita, Arizona has the highest rate of red-light running fatalities, while New Hampshire has the lowest rate.
• Nearly half (46%) of those killed in red-light running crashes were passengers or people in other vehicles,
and more than 5% were pedestrians or cyclists. Just more than 35% of those killed were the drivers who ran the red light.
In Ohio, during the past 10 years, the Ohio Department of Transportation reports 216 people died from red-light running crashes. This is an average of 21 deaths every year, or about 2% of Ohio’s annual traffic fatalities.
“Drivers who decide to run a red light when they could have stopped safely are making a reckless choice that puts other road users in danger,” said Dr. David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “The data shows that red-light running continues to be a traffic safety challenge. All road safety stakeholders must work together to change behavior and identify effective countermeasures.”
Driver Sentiment
According to the AAA Foundation’s latest Traffic Safety Culture Index, 85% of drivers view red-light running as
30 | AAA MAGAZINE
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