Every year in our state, drivers who disregard red lights and stop signs cause thousands of crashes and dozens of fatalities. Aggressive driving is largely to blame. Drivers commonly report that they don’t stop on red because they’re in a hurry. Yet, in reality, the time saved by running a red light is, on average, merely 47 seconds—a poor comparison to lifetimes lost as a result.
“Unfortunately, there are too many drivers in Arizona who ignore red lights, resulting in needless fatal and serious injury crashes,” said Richard Fimbres, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway and an executive member of GTSAC. “Red means stop, not go faster. A few extra moments stopped at a red light can save a lot of lives in Arizona.”
Consider the Following Statistics Next Time You See a Traffic Signal:
In Phoenix:
- In 2005, 10 people were killed and 2,569 were injured in vehicle run-red collisions. In terms of vehicles running stop signs, 455 crashes occurred, killing 4 and injuring 366. 1
- Also in 2005, nearly two-thirds of all collisions occurred within 150 feet of an intersection.1
- In a survey of traffic statistics from 1992 through 1998 by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, Phoenix topped every city in the nation for traffic deaths resulting from running red lights.2
Statewide:
- In 2005, Arizona had 8,349 intersection-related crashes, which injured 7,500 persons and killed 80 more. (Intersection-related collisions account for drivers who failed to stop at red lights and stop signs, combined.) 3
Nationally:
- Each year in the U.S., red-light running results in 219,000 crashes, 168,000 injuries and 940 deaths. 4
- Red light running crashes exact a toll in excess of $12 billion on our economy, counting medical expenses and time lost from work.5
- Two in three Americans see other drivers run red lights almost every day. 6
Sources:
1 City of Phoenix, Street Transportation Department, 2005
2 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2000.
3 Arizona Department of Transportation
4 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2006
5 Federal Highway Administration
6 Federal Highway Administration