National Stop Red Light Running Week

Am I the only one who finds it ironic that TTAC received the press release for National Stop Red Light Running Week arrived in the middle of same (August 2 – 8)? Equally strangely, the PR flack writing this tardy tiresome tirade seems to see red. “While the message is sound, this particular safety campaign is unlike traditional safety programs like ‘Click It or Ticket.’ The ‘Stop on Red Week’ program has a decidedly corporate slant. The big push behind this week appears to be coming from the photo enforcement industry. These are the companies that install red light cameras. Photo enforcement is right in the middle of the ‘safety vs. revenue’ debate taking place nationwide. It’s likely this campaign is mostly about telling the public how necessary photo enforcement is and encouraging towns to install such cameras.” How long before THAT gets pulled? Meanwhile, how about some common sense tips on how not to run a red light? Seriously.

— If you are the first car at a red light, don’t rush into the intersection when the light changes. Give a couple of seconds and an extra look to make sure traffic with the red signal has stopped.

— If the light is amber, don’t speed ahead to “make the light.” Slow down and prepare to stop. Remember amber lights vary greatly in their timing. If you have enough time to stop, then stop.

— If the light is red, certainly stop. No decision to be made there. Do it for your own safety, not because you want to avoid a ticket.

— Know the difference between arrow signals and disc signals. An arrow, red or green, controls drivers intending to move in a particular direction. A traditional disc, or circle signal, generally applies to drivers moving in any direction at the intersection. Pay attention to the types of signals you are facing.

— If you are in a strange location and don’t know the traffic patterns, traffic signal timing, or intersections, proceed with caution. Many accidents occur when drivers are lost and some intersections are trickier than others.