The first week of August is dedicated to National Stop on Red Week, a campaign created by the National Safety Council to promote safe driving practices, which of course includes always stopping at a red light.
Running a red light is the leading cause of accidents in urban and metropolitan areas. Unfortunately, at least two people are killed every day as a result of a motorist neglecting to stop at a red light. In fact, a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety discovered that the 939 people killed in 2017 was a 31% increase from the 715 people who were killed in 2009. To make matters worse, passengers make up the majority of fatalities from red-light running - “More than half of those killed were passengers or people riding in other vehicles. About 35% were the drivers who ran the red light. Pedestrian and cyclist deaths connected to red light running represented about 5% of total deaths.” - NPR.com
Distracted driving is said to be one of the biggest factors behind the continued increase in fatalities caused by running a red light. We urge all drivers to take the initiative to be hands free when behind the wheel. Below are a few tips to help drivers and pedestrians stay safe when crossing an intersection.
Driver Tips
- Put the phone down!!
- Drive Defensively: take your time and look both ways after a light turns green
- “Cover the break” when entering an intersection
- Anticipate a red light
Pedestrians & Cyclists Tips
- Avoid headphones- at least while crossing an intersection
- Make eye contact before crossing an intersection
- Wait for each car to be at a complete stop before crossing an intersection
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