Evaluation of Safety Enforcement on Changing Driver Behavior - Runs on Red (1 of 2 Volumes)

Abstract

Prepared in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration. AbstractRed light running (RLR) is a dangerous act. Approximately 22% of urban crashes at signalized intersections are caused nationwide by RLR. Nearly 1,036 deaths were caused nationwide by RLR in the year 2000. Indiana had no previous research conducted in this area; therefore, this research was aimed at estimating the RLR problem in Indiana. The other objectives of this research included: learning drivers' opinions on the problem, studying the effectiveness of selected countermeasures, and studying the legal issues related to photo-enforcement.A crash statistics study, telephone survey, and extended monitoring of a selected intersection were the three major approaches chosen to estimate the magnitude of the problem. The crash statistics for the 1997-1999 period showed that 22% of signalized intersection crashes were caused in Indiana by RLR. RLR preceded 50% of fatal crashes at these intersections. The telephone survey showed that 67% of Indiana drivers felt that RLR was a problem in the state. Twelve percent of them claimed to have been involved in a RLR crash. The extended monitoring of the through movements at the study intersection also recorded a considerable violation rate. These results indicate that RLR may be considered a problem in Indiana.Traffic at a selected intersection in West Lafayette, Indiana, was videotaped and the video material was used to detect the red light violations. The expected number of drivers arriving at the start of the red signal has been proposed as a true measure of exposure to RLR. We call it an opportunity for RLR. This exposure was used to estimate the RLR rate. The statistical significance of the difference in the RLR rates between different periods was estimated using binomial distribution.Police enforcement was evaluated and found to reduce the violation rate by approximately 75% in the week immediately after the enforcement. A reduction of 37% was observed after another two weeks. The photo-enforcement reduced the violation rate by 62% during the week of enforcement and by 35% during the week immediately following. Young people violated red lights more frequently than other drivers.The legal issues that related to RLR and photo-enforcement were studied. The present state law in Indiana does not support the use of photo-enforcement. . Key Wordsred light running, enforcement, safety, driver behavior.

Analysis of Red Light Running Crashes Based on Quasi-Induced Exposure and Multiple Logistic Regression Method

“…According to an FHWA estimation (2), in 2001, about 200,000 crashes, 150,000 injuries, and 1,100 deaths were attributed to red light running. In Indiana, crash statistics for the 1997 to 1999 period showed that 22% of signalized intersection crashes were caused by red light running, which preceded 50% of fatal crashes at these intersections (3).…”

The effectiveness of Iowa's automated red light running enforcement programs

“…Two methods can be used to extrapolate RLR violations from recorded video at an intersection (57). Although the RLRAP software package does not include a counting program similar to that used in the Purdue study, the goal of this project was to measure the accuracy of phase timing measurements and the repeatability of those measurements over multiple playbacks of the videotape (58).…”

“…Direct monitoring combined camera view (CTRE, Iowa State University).The machine-aided monitoring method's objective is to reduce the time needed to evaluate an approach with the sacrifice of minimal errors in the evaluation(57). As shown below inFigure 17, Purdue University researchers used Autoscope software to detected RLR vehicles at a single intersection approach while determining entering vehicle counts and approaching vehicle speeds.…”

“…Tarko et al concluded that all violations occurred during the first 2 seconds of the red phase. Although this method proved to save considerable time extracting violations, it was determined that the video data needed to be screened a second time to verify that the software captured the violations(57).…”

“…RLR Autoscope computer program approach overlay(57).In a research project conducted by Washburn and Courage at the University of Florida, a third method to evaluate RLR violators was created. Red Light Running Analysis Package (RLRAP) was developed to enable users to monitor two items simultaneously, vehicles entering the intersection and the current signal status, displayed using colors while only using one video feed of the entire intersection as shown inFigure 18.…”