Skip to main content

New report reveals red-light running data and trends across 20 states

More than 3.5 million drivers in 20 US states ran a red light in 2013, according to the second biannual Safer Roads Report 2014: Trends in Red-Light Running from the National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR). The report, released today, examines red-light running trends across 20 states and is designed to help raise driver awareness of the dangers of red-light running. The risks of red-light running are clear: intersection-related vehicle accidents caused more than 8,500 causalities in 2011 – the most r
May 22, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
More than 3.5 million drivers in 20 US states ran a red light in 2013, according to the second biannual Safer Roads Report 2014: Trends in Red-Light Running from the 5755 National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR).

The report, released today, examines red-light running trends across 20 states and is designed to help raise driver awareness of the dangers of red-light running. The risks of red-light running are clear: intersection-related vehicle accidents caused more than 8,500 causalities in 2011 – the most recent year for which data is available – according to the 834 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

NCSR's report analysed red-light running data collected from 2,216 red-light safety cameras across 202 areas in 20 states.

Report highlights include: Memorial Day weekend was the highest ranked holiday travel period, with 39,021 red-light running violations in 2013; Halloween had the lowest number of red-light running violations in 2013, with 28,902 total ; Friday proved to be the worst day for intersection safety in 2013 — safety cameras caught 570,151 total red-light running violations — while Sunday saw the fewest violations, with 439,323 total; Drivers most frequently ran red lights in the afternoon, with 30.07 percent (1,070,572) of all red-light running violations in 2013 occurring from 1 pm to 5 pm.

"By highlighting the data and trends around red-light running, we hope to educate the public on the dangers of running red lights," said David Kelly, executive director, NCSR, and Former Acting Administrator of NHTSA. "The information in the report reveals when we are most vulnerable on the road and reminds everyone to stay alert and safe near intersections."

Related Content

  • Bristol’s buses trial CycleEye detection system
    July 7, 2017
    Fusion Processing’s Jim Hutchinson looks at a two-year trial of the company’s cyclist detection system. Is cycling in a city dangerous? Well, that depends where you are and how you view statistics. Malmö is far more bike-friendly than Mumbai and the risk can either be perceived as small - one death per 29 million miles cycled in the UK in 2013 - or large - that equated to 109 deaths in the same year. Whatever your personal take on the data, the effect of these accidents can be felt indirectly too. News of c
  • Sensys & Verizon partner on intersections
    June 6, 2018
    Sensys Networks is here at ITS America Detroit to highlight solutions to address intersection safety - 40% of crashes, 50% of serious collisions, and 20% of fatalities occur in intersections. Unfortunately, many cities currently rely solely on historical crash data, hardly a systematic way to analyse and manage potentially harmful traffic situations. To help increase intersection safety, Sensys Networks is automating accurate and actionable safety data, and teaming with Verizon to do so. SensTraffic, the
  • Technology targets Red-X transgressors
    February 25, 2016
    Currently deployed technology is being used to detect motorists ignoring the ‘red-X’ signs that indicate the lane is closed, as Colin Sowman hears. With an increasing network of ‘Smart Motorways’ - all-lane running or the opening of hard shoulders during times of congestion - Highways England (HE) has identified a growing problem with ‘red-X’ compliance. The ‘red-X’ sign signifies a closed lane or lanes and used to provide a safer area for stranded motorists, emergency workers or road maintenance crews and
  • Kria
    March 16, 2012
    Applications in the field of enforcement are a mix of road safety technology, law and social impacts. Best practice is not necessarily defined by geographical area, but rather to the way the aforementioned factors are balanced by authorities. Enforcement practice can be described as ‘best’ where a system or operation is valuably applied in terms of road safety improvement while gaining overall public acceptance. In Italy, a land of frequent legal disputes around traffic enforcement, a number of discrete exa