August 15 , 2003, #11

Let's Walk & Roll

The Red Light Means Stop

Next week is Stop on Red Week.

In the last decade, collisions due to Red Light running have increased dramatically, especially when compared to overall collisions (18% for red lights, 6% for overall). Over 55% of Americans admit to red light running, and 65% of Americans see someone run a red light at least once a week!

The yellow light phase means that if you have not entered the intersection, you must stop if you can do so safely. It does not imply “go for it if you can make it!”

Not only does red light running pose a serious danger for drivers, but it causes confusion and life-threatening danger for cyclists and pedestrians, especially those in the high-risk categories – children and the elderly.

Children are usually taught to cross the street at traffic signals by waiting for the green light. After a number of harrowing experiences, it is recommended that parents teach their children to wait and look for cars when the light turns green and then cross when it’s clear the coast is clear. One of the authors and his sons have been nearly run over by drivers gunning it through the intersection after the light has changed to red.

Are our schedules crammed to the point of overwhelming our common sense? Occasionally, it can seem like the maximum 30 seconds that we might possibly save by gunning it through an intersection may make a difference between being late or keeping to our schedule. But the time saved is not worth the danger and possible injury that running the red light may result in.

It’s also important to be aware that some lights at intersections are timed poorly, so that drivers do not have enough time to react when the light turns yellow. The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) recently published report on designing intersections to cut down on unintentional red-light running. In the report, they found that lengthening the yellow-light phase can have a significant affect on the number of red-light runners. According to the Public Works department, the average yellow-light phase in Alameda is three seconds which is about what ITE recommends that it should be.

Running a red light can be lethal. We all have a responsibility to act appropriately on the streets; cars and bicyclists need to stop on Red (no exceptions) and pedestrians need to cross with the light at a legal crosswalk. It is the only way that we can all make it through the day in one piece.

Jeff Swatman is the Alameda Police Department Traffic Sergeant. If you have questions regarding pedestrian/bicycle safety, please call him at 748-4508 extension 3342. John Knox White and Audrey Lord-Hausman work with Pedestrian Friendly Alameda (www.pedfriendly.org) and BikeAlameda (www.bikealameda.org).

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