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Drivers who tend to interpret red traffic lights as “go much faster” may soon have to think twice about running that light.
Collier County has joined the national fight against red-light runners.
Tuesday, the Collier County Commission unanimously approved a resolution asking the state Legislature to create a law allowing automated photographic traffic-control systems enforcement by local governments to prevent red-light running.
There is no statewide legislation in place, said Connie Deane, a spokeswoman for the county’s transportation division.
The issue was originally raised at the Feb. 27 meeting by the STOP! Red Light Running Coalition of Florida, but it is not the first time that county officials have been in favor of having such a system in Collier.
In 2005, Collier adopted a resolution urging lawmakers to allow local governments to use photographic traffic-control systems in the enforcement of red-light running violations.
County officials cited the Florida Insurance Council, the Florida League of Cities, the Federal Highway Administration, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and many other local, state and national agencies support for the system as part of their reason for supporting the resolution.
Pilot photographic traffic control system programs have been running in Sarasota, Bradenton, Gulf Breeze, Melbourne, Orlando and Pensacola since 2005.
According to county documents, in 2003 the Florida Highway Patrol reported more than 300,000 motorists were ticketed for running red lights in the state.
The report also showed that red-light runners caused 8,000 crashes resulting in 13,000 injuries, 115 deaths and $77 million in damages.
Chris Galm, spokesman for the National Campaign to STOP Red Light Running, said that local governments have been taking the initiative to deal with the issue, with a little nudge in the right direction from residents.
“In Florida it’s ground roots,” said Galm.
He said that although there are some places where the case can be made that red-light running does not rise to the status of state wide problem, Florida is not one of them.
A 2005 study by the Federal Highway Administration reported that 34 people killed were killed that year due to red-light running crashes.
It also ranked Florida as the third state with most deaths caused by red light running crashes.
“Not an enviable place to be,” said Galm. “The problem in Florida is so stark, that you can’t read a newspaper without reading about another crash caused by red light running.”
For more information on the coalition’s efforts visit www.orgsites.com/fl/floridastops or www.stopredlightrunning.com for the national campaign.
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The only problem is that traffic citations are supposed to be issued to the driver and not the person to whom the car is registered. The photos will only allow you to identify the person or company who registered the vehicle. We should increase the penalty and make an example of some people.
#1 Posted by ny52795 on March 15, 2007 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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