FOR RELEASE ON:  July 13, 2000
Download the national version of this release from www.hwysafety.org after 11:30 a.m. EST
CONTACTS:  
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 703/247-1500: Brian O'Neill (H: 703/760-0834) or Julie Rochman (H: 301/891-2974)

Ohio Insurance Institute, 614-228-1593: Mary Bonelli (H: 614-443-0400) or Mitch Wilson (H: 614-868-0575)

RED LIGHT RUNNING FACTORS INTO MORE THAN 800 DEATHS ANNUALLY; MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE WHO DIE ARE HIT BY RED LIGHT VIOLATORS

COLUMBUS, OH/ARLINGTON, VA - Each year more than 800 people countrywide die and an estimated 200,000-plus are injured in crashes that involve red light running, according to information released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).  Total deaths from such crashes numbered almost 6,000 from 1992-98.  Over half of these fatalities, according to IIHS, were either pedestrians or occupants in other vehicles hit by the red light runners.  Another 2,779 who died occupied the vehicles running red lights.  During the seven-year period, about 1.5 million were injured in such crashes.

According to the Ohio Insurance Institute (OII), about 11,300 red light running crashes occurred annually across the state between 1992-98, based on information provided by the Ohio Department of Public Safety.  An average of 29 fatality crashes occurred annually in the Buckeye state during this seven-year period.

"This traffic safety problem deserves more attention than it has received," says Ed Rust Jr., IIHS chairman and CEO of State Farm.  "Red light running is more than just a form of aggressive driving.  People are dying and getting hurt needlessly because of it."

Camera enforcement

Nationally, fatal crashes at traffic signals increased 18 percent between 1992-98, more than three times the rate of increase for all other types of fatal crashes during the same time.  Because red light running is a big part of the problem, IIHS has been studying the effectiveness of red light camera programs.  The cameras, which are being used to enforce traffic laws in about 40 US communities, photograph vehicles whose drivers deliberately run red lights.  Violators then are ticketed by mail.  Such programs reduce red light running by about 40 percent, IIHS research has found.>

Cameras have been used with success outside the US, but in some jurisdictions there has been opposition to cameras because of perceived privacy concerns.

"This should be a non issue," IIHS president Brian O'Neill says.  "Red light runners have no right to jeopardize others and then hide their violations behind privacy claims.  Public officials should be concerned with protecting innocent people from being killed or injured by red light runners rather than protecting the privacy of people who break the law."

Toledo will be the first city in the Buckeye state to install such cameras, which are expected by fall.

"We applaud the city of Toledo for taking the initiative to reduce the risk of death and injuries associated with running red lights," said Daniel J. Kelso, OII president.  "We are hopeful that other cities across the state will take a closer look at this program and how it can save lives and reduce injuries."

1998 statewide economic losses from these crashes are estimated at $464 million.

Geographic variation

Arizona has the highest rate of fatal red light running crashes and has begun camera enforcement in several cities.  Nationally, three of the four cities with the highest rates of fatal red light running crashes are in Arizona.  Other states with high rates include Nevada, Michigan, Texas, Alabama and New Mexico.  Overall, Ohio's death rate of 1.4 per 100,000 places the state at 29th in comparison to other states.

Ohio statistics

Five major Ohio cities are on IIHS' 78-city list for death rates per 100,000 in population as well.  Toledo had the highest death rate in the state at 4.7 per 100,000.  Other cities in the Buckeye state noted in the IIHS report include Akron, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus.

-30-