Running red lights kills 800 annually

Thursday, July 13, 2000 | 11 a.m.

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

WASHINGTON -- Nevada ranks second nationally in traffic fatalities caused by drivers running red lights, a study released today says.

The report, issued by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, found that more than 800 people die and about 200,000 people are injured each year in the United States because of lead-footed drivers who press the gas pedal to the floor when a traffic light turns red.

According to the report, between 1992 and 1998, almost 6,000 people died in such crashes, and more than half of them were pedestrians and occupants of other vehicles hit by red light runners.

In Nevada, 59 people died in such accidents, ranking second only behind Arizona, with 305 deaths in the same period.

"Even one death is too many," Metro Police Sgt. Curt Albert said. But Albert questioned the ranking, saying that although the statistics reflect a state population of about 1.8 million, Las Vegas alone hosts 36 million tourists.

"So if you look at the numbers with that in mind, my guess is that we're one of the lowest risk states in the country," Albert said. "Las Vegas is actually a very, very safe town."

Researchers from the institute studied data from the Transportation Department and found that fatal crashes at traffic signals increased 18 percent from 1992 to 1998, more than three times the rate of increase for all other fatal crashes during that time.

"Red light running is more than just a form of aggressive driving. People are dying and getting hurt needlessly because of it," Ed Rust Jr., chairman of the institute and chief executive of State Farm Insurance, said in a written statement.

In each state, the researchers examined the rate of red light running deaths per 100,000 residents and determined that the states with the highest death rate were Arizona, with a rate of 7.1 deaths; Nevada with 3.9; Michigan with 3.7; Texas with 3.5; and Alabama with 3.4.

Among cities, the rate was highest in Phoenix, with 10.8 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by Memphis, Tenn., with a rate of 8.0; Mesa, Ariz., with a rate of 7.8 deaths; Tucson and St. Petersburg, Fla., both with a rate of 7.6 deaths.

In releasing the data, the institute endorsed the use of red light cameras, which photograph vehicles running red lights.